
Glass Elil4il. 

Book_-Jij^6 



PRESENTED Wf 



THE REPUBLIC 

OF COSTA RICA 



=2.-}/^ 




Gustavo Niederlein 

CHIEF OF TH i SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT 

THE PHILADELPHIA 
COMMERCIAL MUSEUM 



H 



p. 
Publ. 

13 F '03 



THE 

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUMS, 

Established by Ordinance of City Councils, 1894. 

233 South Fourth Street. 



BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

Ex-Officio. 

Hon. DANIEL H. HASTINGS, 
Governor of Pennsylvania. 

Hon. CHARLES F. WARWICK, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. 

JAMES L. MILES, 
President of Select Council. 

WENCEL HARTMAN, 
President of Common Council. 

SAMUEL B. HUEY, 
President of the Board of Public Education. 

Dr. EDWARD BROOKS, 
Superintendent of Public Schools. 

NATHAN C. SCHAEFFER, 
State Superintendent of Public Schools. 

J. T. ROTHROCK, B. S., M. D., 
State Forestry Commissioner. 

Permanent Trustees, 

WILLIAM PEPPER, M. D.,' LL.D., THOMAS MEEHAN, 

CHARLES H. CRAMP, DANIEL BAUGH, 

THOMAS DOLAN, W. W. FOULKROD, 

GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, FRANK THOMSON, 

WILLIAM M. ELKINS, JOHN WANAMAKER, 
Mrs. CORNELIUS STEVENSON, Sc.D., P. A, B. WIDENER, 

SIMON GRATZ, SYDNEY L. WRIGHT. 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 

WM. PEPPER, M. D., LL.D., 
President. 

CHARLES H. CRAMP, 
Vice-President. 

SYDNEY h. WRIGHT, • ■■ 
Treasurer. 

WIIvLIAM M. WATTS, ■■ '■ 
Secretary. 



OFFICERS OF THE MUSEUM. 

WILLIAM P. WILSON, Sc.D., 
Director. 

WILIvIAM HARPER, 
Chief of the Bureau of Information. 

C. A. GREEN, 
Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Information. 

WILFRED H. SCHOFF, 
Foreign Secretary of tjie Bureau of Iujformation„ 

GUST AVE NIEDERLEIN, 
Chief of the Scientific Department. 

WM. B. MARSHALL, 
Curator of Natural Products. 

LOUIS J. MATOS, 
Chief of Laboratories. 



Introduction. 



I HIS monograph treats of the topography, geology, min- 
eral wealth and soils of Costa Rica; it describes its cli- 
mate and presents the details of its flora and fauna with refer- 
ence to their economic value; it displays the distribution of 
population according to race, wealth, communities and social 
■conditions; it examines the agricultural development of the 
Republic, including its live stock and forests; and, finally, it 
recounts the most important features of its commerce, in- 
dustry, finance, and of its economic and political conditions. 

It is made up of observations and studies pursued in 1897 
and 1898, during seven and a half months of economic and 
scientific explorations in Central America, and of facts gar- 
nered with great care from authoritative manuscripts, books 
and official documents and publications. Respect has been 
shown to the work of men of originality in research and 
thought, and care has been taken to adhere closely to the 
original text when either quoting or translating. I am es- 
pecially indebted to Professor H. Pittier, whose great quali- 
fications for a scientific exploration of Costa Rica cannot be 
•overestimated; to Mr. Anastasio Alfaro, the Director of the 
National Museum; to Mr. Manuel Aragon, the Director Gen- 
eral of the National Statistical Department; to Dr. Juan 
Ullua, the Minister of Fomento; to Joaquin B. Calvo, Minister 
Resident in Washington; and Mr. Rafael Iglesias, the able 
President of the Republic of Costa Rica. 



^5; 



The State of Costa Rica. 



TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL WEALTH. 

Costa Rica, the southernmost Republic of Central Amer- 
ica, is advantageously situated within the North tropical zone^ 
adjoining Colombia, the most northern state of South Amer- 
ica. It is between the two great oceans, having also the pros- 
pect of one inter-oceanic ship-canal at one extremity and an- 
other ship-canal near the other. 

Costa Rica is between 8° and ii° i6' N. latitude 
and 8i° 35' and 85° 40' W. longitude from Greenwich. Its- 
area is between 54,070 and 59,570 sq. kilometers, the dif- 
ference arising from the boundary line unsettled with Co- 
lombia. We follow here Colonel George Earl Church's paper- 
in the London Geographical Journal of July, 1897, whicb 
gives in a condensed form all important results of extensive 
explorations by Professor H. Pittier as well as well-written 
abstracts o'f important publications of the "Instituto fisico geo- 
grafico Nacional" and of the "Museo Nacional" of Costa Rica.. 

The mountains of Costa Rica are not a continuous Cor- 
dillera, although in general they extend from the frontier o£ 

(7) 



Colombia to within a few miles of Brito. The entire country 
may properly be divided into two distinctive groups by a 
natural line running between the mouths of the Reventazon 
and Rio Grande de Pirris; groups which can be called "vol- 
canic mountains" or "mountains of the northwest," and "Tal- 
amanca mountains" or "mountains of the southeast." It is 
clear that the Caribbean Sea once joined the Pacific 
Ocean through this valley of the river Reventazon in which 
the Costa Rica Railway now climbs to reach Cartago. In 
weighing existing data there seems to be no room for doubt 
that the highlands of Costa Rica once formed part of a vast 
archipelago extending from Panama to Tchuantepec. The 
lowest inter-oceanic depressions between the Arctic Ocean 
and the Straits of Magellan are the divide between the two 
oceans at Panama which is 286 feet above the sea level, and 
the narrow strip of land separating Lake Nicaragua from the 
Pacific, which has only about 150 feet elevation 

The "volcanic mountains" or "the mountains of the 
northwest" can again be divided into two sections. The first 
comprises the part situated between the Rio Reventazon and 
a depression which connects San Ramon with the water-shed 
of San Carlo'S, including the groups of the volcanoes Turialba 
{11,000 feet), Irazu (11,200 feet), Barba (9335 feet) and Poas 
(8675 feet). The second section comprises the part which ex- '' 
tends from the Barranca River to the Lake of Nicaragua wi:h 
the groups of Tilaran, Miravalles, La Vieja and Orosi. 

The first section may be called "Cordillera Central" or 
""Condillera del Irazu" and the second "Cordillera del Mira- 
valles." The three masses which form the volcanic Cordillera 
of Irazii are separated by two depressions: first by that of 
La Palma, 1500 meters above the sea, between Irazu and 
Barba, and second by that of Desengafio, 1800 meters above 
the sea, between Barba and Poas. 

The basis of the two western masses seems to be formed 
of basaltic rocks, while the trachytes dominate in the eastern 
mass. Irazu and Turialba, which is part of the same mass, 
seem to have ejected lavas in a compact state. The height of 
volcanoes diminishes towards the west. 

The three orographic groups which dominate the 



aiorthern (Central plateau do not show the regular conical form 
which usually characterizes a volcano. The general line of 
the southern slopes ascends in an imperceptible manner to- 
wards the summit, notwithstanding that they are composed of 
a succession of terrace plains. On the Irazu, for instance, 
eight such terraces are observable from Cartago to the sum- 
mit. The northern declivity is more precipitous, being over 
"60° on the Irazu. 

The peak of the Irazu is a point from which go various 

spurs and secondary mountains in opposite directions, one 

to the west and one to the east, the latter terminating in a 

crater where the Parismina River takes its origin. The west- 

• ern -mountains trend first in a westerly direction to the Cerro 

Pelon, where they divide, one part descending south to the pass 

•of Ochomogo, 1540 meters above sea-level; the other, after 

-.taking a northwesterly direction, terminating in the plain of 

La Palma, which is a part of the water-shed of the two 

oceans. On the south various mountains follow the rivers 

Pirris and Turialba. The Irazii has various craters, formed 

successively, each one contributing to the gradual rising of 

the mass. 

The Irazu, which had eruptions in 1723, 1726, 1821 and 
.1847, has now an altitude of 3414 m. (11,200 feet), and from its 
summit both oceans are visible, and also the great valleys of 
San Juan and of Lake Nicaragua, as well as the mountains of 
Pico Blanco, Chirripo, Buena Vista and Las Vueltas. 
Turialba had a famous eruption of sand and ashes which 
began on the 17th of August, 1864, and lasted to March, 
1865. Its heaviest ejected matter fell to the west, and See- 
bach classifies it as andesite. Another eruption, occurring on 
February 6, 1866, was accompanied by heavy earthquakes 
and sent its ashes as far as Puntarenas. 

The Cordillera del Miravalles commences with the vol- 
cano Orosi, situated near the southwest extremity of Lake 
Nicaragua. In its southeast trend it recedes more and more 
from the lake and the San Juan River. It is an irregular, 
broad and volcano-dotted chain, about sixty geographical 
miles long, breaking down gradually on the northwest from 
■Orosi to the Sapoa River, one of the southern boundaries of 



lO 



Nicaragua. In this short distance are found the Cerro de la. 
Vieja (6508 feet), the Montemuerto (8000 feet), the beautiful 
volcano Tenorio (6700 feet), the volcanoes Miravalles (4665 
feet), the Rinoon (4498 feet), and the Orosi (5195 feet). 

These mountains, as far as they have been examined, are 
found to be of eruptive origin, basalts and trachytes predomi- 
nating, but extensive sedimentary rock formations are also 
found upon their slopes, as well as vast deposits of boulders, 
clay, earth and volcanic material. 

The peninsula of Nicoya, forming a part of Guanacaste,. 
is partly an elevated plain and partly consists of hills and 
mountain ridges seldom attaining a greaiter elevation than 
1500 feet. It is also composed of eruptive rocks and sedi- 
mentary formations, the latter being especially visible in the 
valley of Tempi s que. 

Between the northern volcanic section and the more 
regular Talamanca range is the notable "Ochomogo" Pass, 
about twenty miles broad, and a little more than 5000 feet 
above the sea-level at the water parting. 

To the eastward through this gap, and in a broad, deeply 
eroded valley, runs the tumultuous Reventazon River, and to 
the westward the Rio Grande de Pirris. On the south of this 
depression the Chirripo Grande mountain mass sends of¥ 
east and west two immense flanking ranges. A part of the 
western range, lying between San Marcos and Santa Maria, 
for a length of about six miles, is known as the Dota ridge, to 
which former explorers gave great importance. 

This lofty, transverse and precipitous mounitain system 
almost forbids communication between the northern and 
southern halves of the Republic, and, as Colonel Church says, 
must at all times have had a marked influence on the move- 
ment of races in this part of Central America. Both the 
northern and Talamanca sections present mountains in masses 
instead of sierrated like many Andean chains of North 
America. Those of the Talamanca section are Rovalo 
(7050 feet), Pico Blanco (9650 feet), Chirripo Grande (11,850 
feet) and Buena Vista (10,820 feet). There are no signs 'A' 
recent volcanic activity in the Talamanca range. The Tala- 
manca mountains have narrow crests and are very precip- 



II 



itous on the Atlantic side, with evidences of extensive de- 
nudations and erosions caused by the ceaseless ' rain-laden 
trade-winds. 

Professor William M. Gabb, in his geological sketch of 
Talamanca, observes that the geological structure of the en- 
tire region is very simple. The greatest expanse is occupied 
by recent sedimentary rocks raised and nearly entirely meta- 
morphosed by the action of volcanic masses. 

At several points along the Atlantic coast, there are 
found masses of rocks of still later date. Professor Gabb 
maintains that the nucleus of the great Cordillera of the in- 
terior is formed by granites and syenites, which, like the sedi- 
ment that covers them, are broken through here and there 
by dikes of volcanic origin identical with the eruptive ma- 
terial found on a greater scale in the northern part of Costa 
Rica. The syenites are intrusive and have their culminating 
point and greatest development in the Pico Blanco or Kamuk, 
a mountain of great altitude, unusual ruggedness and scarred 
with deep and precipitous canons. All these dikes are of 
more modern formation and are porphyritic. Professor Gabb 
also notes a thick deposit of conglomerates and sandstones, 
schists and limestones, the schists being the most abundant; 
although the conglomerates, fo-und all over the region, indi- 
cate the previous existence of an older sedimentary formation. 

The pebbles which form the conglomerates are composed 
of metamorphic clay, having a character distinct from all the 
other rocks found in the' country. The cement is also clay 
or sand. The absence of crystalline rocks in the conglom- 
erates is irrefutable proof that, when these were deposited, the 
syenites and granites had not yet appeared from the interior of 
the earth. The limestone and sandstone represent a less de- 
veloped geographical horizon of the sedimentary group, the 
latter appearing occasionally in layers, interstratified with 
conglomerates or more recent schists. In no place in Tala- 
manca have fossils been found in these sandstones, although 
the same rocks are very fossiliferous near Zapote on the River 
Reventazon. 

In regard to fossils. Professor Gabb saw at Las Lomas 
Station, about seven hundred feet above the sea, in the Bonilla 



12 



Cliffs cuifting, shark's tecth, compact masses of sea shells, 
fish, etc, and at an elevation of 2500 feet large deposits of 
compact shell limestone. 

The schists have a fine, leaf-like texture, and are easily de- 
composed and reduced to a black mud, if they have not been 
metamorphosed. In this rock fossils have been found which 
belong to a Miocene age. 

Along the Talamanca coast calcareous deposits are 
found in horizontal layers, and are probably elevajted coral 
reefs, a rock which Professor Gabb calls "antillite," and 
which is developed in the entire Caribbean region. It be- 
longs to the post-Pliocene formation, the last of the Tertiary 
series. 

In the interior valleys a thick deposit of pebbles and clays 
of recent origin is observed. The limit between the syenites 
of the high mountains and the metamorpWosed Miiocene 
formation is found in proximity to the Depuk River. In 
the slopes of the hills the schists are usually deco.mposed and 
covered with red clay, a sub-soil above which is found a small 
■cap of fertile vegetable mold. In the valley of Tsuku the 
schists are profoundly altered and transformed in a mag- 
nesic or semi-talcous rock. The schists are more silicified in 
coming near to the limits of the syenites. 

Higher up, the granitic rocks extend in the direction of 
the Pico Blanco without interruption. The Pico Blanco itself 
is of granite. Three hundred feet below the summit porphyry 
is observed, while the summit itself shows a greenish-brown 
trachyte with black spots. 

In regard to the Pacific side of this Talamanca section. 
Professor H. Pittier says, "The southern coast Cordillera, as 
a whole, is formed of a nucleus of basaltic or syenitic rocks, 
above which are found successively limestone in very deep 
banks and sometimes fossiliferous ; then argillaceous and 
marly schists; again, sandstone and conglomerates, the latter 
forming generally the crests of the hills and giving way very 
easily to atmospheric action, which produces its decomposi- 
tion and is the cause of sterile lands characterized by 
savannas and the absence of forests on the upper parts of the 
mountains, as well as in certain lower and denuded parts. 



13 

The conglomerates are made up of heterogeneous elements- 
whose resistance to erosion is variable. Some disintegrate 
as soon as the}- are exposed to erosion, while others re- 
main unaltered for a long time. For this reason the savannas 
are in many places covered with stones of varied sizes. 

The lower valley of the Pirris presents a cap of im- 
pervious red clay, and as the waters do not readily drain off 
they become stagnant and make an unhealthy district. 

Dr. Frantzius, referring to the same region, speaks of 
diorites and syenites, also of calcareous deposits of the 
Miocene age covered with sandstone formations containing 
useful lignites. In his opinion the mountain of Dota is 
formed almost entirely of dioritic rocks with some syenitic 
nucleus. The same scientist says further that the high plains 
of Caiios Gordas are formed of conglomerates of ashes ejected 
by the volcano of Chiriqui and brought there by the trade^ 
winds which prevail in Central America 

The Pacific slope, which comes boldly to the water's 
edge, is margined almost throughout by headlands and lofty 
hills, and has fewer evidences of extensive denudations and 
erosions than the Atlantic coast. 

There is also a notable difference between the outlines of 
the two coasts. The eastern is regular and slightly concave 
to the southwest, while the western is indented with large and 
small bays and gulfs. 

The most northern of these bays is the Salinas, belonging 
partly to Nicaragua and partly to Costa Rica. It is a 
spacious deep-water harbor, overlooked by the volcanic peak 
of Orosi. It is separated from the adjoining bay, the Santa 
Elena, by Sacate Point. 

Continuing south, we come, south of Cacique Point, to 
Port Culebra, which is a mile wide, with a depth of eighteen 
fathoms. At the outlet of this harbor lies CocosBay, capa- 
cious enough for a thousand ships to anchor in the roadstead. 
The coast line south of Cocos Bay, bordered by numer- 
ous and lofty hills and cut into gorges by small impetuous 
water courses, presents no harbor as far as Cape Blanco, 
which is at the western entrance of the extensive Gulf of 
Nicoya. The gulf extends fifty miles to the northwest and is.. 



14 

a magnificent sheet of water, surrounded by green scenery, 
rivaling, if not surpassing, that of the Bay of Naples, the 
Bosphorus, or the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. Some twenty 
islands, large and small, nearly all bold, rocky and covered 
with vegetation, contribute to its beauty, while many small 
rivers, draining the slopes of the Miravalles and Tilaran 
sierras and the mountains of the peninsula of Nicoya, flow 
into it and diversify the scenery. The principal river, the 
Tempisque, enters at the head of the gulf, and with numerous 
small branches irrigates much of the province of Guanacaste. 

All of the streams have bars at their mouths, composed 
generally of mud and broken sihells, and but few of them are 
navigable even for a short distance inland, and then by very 
small craft. The whole eastern part of the peninsula of 
Nicoya is broken into hills and low mountains, wild and 
rarely cultivated, although there are many beautiful and fer- 
tile valleys. The west side of the gulf is full of reefs, rocks, 
violent currents, eddies that run from one to three and a half 
miles an hour, and is subject to violent squalls coming from 
the northwestern sierras. The eastern shore is less beset by 
■obstructions, and small craft go along it with ease, and at high 
tide penetrate a few of its many rivers. It rises rapidly a short 
distance inland, but is at times bordered by mangrove 
swamps. 

Near the mouth of the river x\ranjuez, on a sand spit 
three miles long, stands Puntarenas, the only port of entry of 
Costa Rica on the Pacific coast, and which 'had, from 1814 
until recently, nearly the entire foreign trade of the country. 
Ocean vessels anchor from one to two miles ofif in the road- 
stead. There is an iron pier for loading and discharging. 

From Puntarenas 'southward to the unnavigable Bar- 
ranca River there is a broad beach lying at the foot of the 
high escarpment of Caldera. 

The Rio Grande de Tarcoles, which enters the gulf south 
of the Barranca, has a dangerous bar, but once inside it ma\' 
"be navigated a few miles. Its upper waters irrigate the table- 
land of San Jose, Alajuela and Heredia. In the neighbor- 
hood of these towns is garnered nearly the entire coffee crop 
of Costa Rica. The coast line south is rocky and precipitous 



15 

until near Punta Mala, or Judas, at the southeastern mouth 
-of the gulf, and is low and surrounded by reefs and rocks. 

From Point Judas, low and covered with mangrove 
-swamps, the coast trends southeast in a long angular curve for 
about one hundred marine miles to Point Llorena. It is dom- 
inated by lofity hills, cut through at intervals by short impet- 
uous streams and a few estuaries. The only safe and excel- 
Jent anchorage in this one hundred miles is Uvita Bay, be- 
hind a rocky reef. From the precipitous headline, called 
Punta Llorena, to Burica Point, the southern limit of Costa 
Rica, the coast is abrupt, soon rising into ridges and peaks 
from 300 to 700 meters high (985 to 2300 feet). These give 
birth to a few short turbulent streams. About half way be- 
tween these two points the great Golfo Dulce, having a main 
width of six miles, penetrates inland northwest about twenty- 
eight miles. It has an average depth of one hundred fathoms. 

Cape Matapalo, which marks its western entrance, is 
deep and forest covered, but Banco Point, opposite to it, is 
low. At the head of the gulf is found the little Bay of Rincon. 
From here to the Esquinas River, at the northeast angle of 
the gulf, the shore is hilly, and thence to the harbor of Golfito, 
which is surrounded by high hills, the country rises rapidly 
inland, but between Golfito and the entrance to the gulf it is 
lower and less broken, and thence to Platanal Point and 
Burica Point, the coast is bold, the country descending grad- 
ually from the northeast. 

From Point Llorena to Point Burica the coast is wild 
and almost uninhabited. The coasts of Golfo Dulce have but 
a few hundred half-breeds as their sole occupants. 

There are but two rivers in the long coast line from the 
Gulf of Nicoya to the Golfo Dulce, the Rio Grande de Pirris, 
and the Rio Grande de Terraba, the head waters of the former 
flowing through deep canyons with steep sides, which are 
almost bare of vegetation until the region of Guaitil is 
reached, where dense forests are encountered. The valley of 
the Rio Grande de Terraba is one of the most beautiful, ex- 
tensive and fertile of Costa Rica, but is occupied by only 
a few families. Formerly it was the home of a large indige- 
nous population. 



i6 

In the angle made by the River Buena Vista and Ohirripo 
there is a vast ancient cemetery, the graves of which contain 
many ornaments of gold, principally eagles. An ancient road 
runs by near this place. 

Turning to the hydrographic basin of the San Juan River 
and Lake Nicaragua, the northeastern slope of the Miravalles 
range is found to send off several small streams to the lake. 

Between Cuajiniquil, two and one-fo'Urth miles east of 
Rio Sapoa, and Tortuga, six miles further east, are the little 
streams, Lapita, El Cangrejo, Puente de Piedra, La Vivora, 
Guabo, Genizaro and Tortuga, the latter the greatest in vol- 
ume, being about one hundred and sixty feet wide at its 
mouth and navigable. In the further distance of seventeen 
miles going east, we cross the rivers Zavalos, Cafiitas,. 
Que&era, Mena, Mioo, Sapotillo, Quijada, Quijadita, Santa 
Barbara', Sardinia, Barreal, Caiias, Perrito and, finally. Las 
Haciendas which is navigable by small boats. Fro'm here to 
San Carlos, at the outlet of Lake Nicaragua, the distance is 
sixty-four kilometers, and the principal rivers which cross 
this tract are El Pizote, Papalusco, Guacolito, Zapote, Cafio 
Negro and Rio Frio. The Rio Frio is of considerable magni- 
tude, and with its many branches drains a large area of the 
territory lying on the slopes of the volcanoes of Miravalles 
and Tenorio. It pours much sedimentary matter into Lake 
Nicaragua, and has thrown an extensive mudbank across the 
lake entrance to the River San Juan. 

For three or four miles above the mouth of the River 
Frio the lands are low and swampy. Several of its branches 
can be reached and navigated by canoe, and even a small river 
steamer can ascend a few miles from the lake. 

The San Carlos Riveir joins the San Juan sixty-five 
miles from Lake Nicaragua. The depth of its mouth, which 
is obstructed by a sand-bar, varies from eight to twenty feet,, 
according to the season. 

The San Carlos has numerous afifluents which at times 
have a volume of water altogether disproportionate to their 
leng*ths. The distance up to the first rapid of the San Carlos 
River, which is at El Muelle de San Rafael where there are 
from four to six feet of water, is roughly fixed at six'ty-two. 



17 

miles by the course of the river. Small steamers could 
reach this point, although with difficulty on account of many 
snags. The floods sometimes rise to their full height in 
twenty-four hours and carry with them a great number of 
trees and much sand, from which floating islands are formed. 

Should the plans of Engineer Menocal for the Nicaragua 
Canal be realized, the waters of the upper San Juan and the 
lower San Carlos would be impounded and form an arm of 
Lake Nicaragua, which would flood a large area in Costa 
Rica. The interval between the San Carlos and the River 
Frio is an extensive forest, covering an undulating plain with 
occasional low hills and watered by numerous little streams. 
This territory is fertile and beautiful. 

The next great river, the Sarapiqui, reaches the San Juan 
about twenty miles east of San Carlos. It is 600 feet wide at 
its mouth, and has numerous affluents from the sides of the 
volcanoes Poas, Barba and Irazu, the principal ones being 
the Toro Amarilla and Sardinal from the west, and the River 
Sucio from the east. The river is navigable for large canoes 
up to its confluence with the Puerto Viejo. Its banks as 
high up as to the River Sucio are low. The lands are ex- 
tremely fertile. El Muelle Nuevo is the head of navigation, . 
forty-five miles from the River San Juan and sixty-six miles 
by the road across the mountains from San Jose. 

From the Sarapiqui River to the River Colorado, a 
branich or bayou of the San Juan, the banks of the latter in 
Costa Rica are but slightly elevated. The lands are low and 
swampy, but occasionally a hill is found from fifteen to 
eighteen feet high. 

Below the Machuca Rapids the San Juan River is broad 
and deep as far as the junction with its Colorado outlet, about 
seventeen miles from the sea. Here it turns about nine-tenths 
of its volume of water into the Colorado. It is navigable for 
river steaimers at all seasons, but has a dangerous bar at its 
mouth where the sea breaks heavily, and on which there are 
only from eig^ht to nine feet of water. 

From the Colorado Junction to Greytown, some twenty 
miles distant, the San Juan averages about three hundred 



i8 

feet in width for sixteen miles and loo feet for the remaining 
four, with a depth at high water of from six to eight feet. 

The Colorado has several islands in its course, but has 
excellent anchorage at its mouth. This river forms several 
lagoons which communicate with each other by cafios or 
bayous perfectly navigable, the principal being the Agua 
Duke, a short distance from the sea, eleven miles in length, 
800 feet in width and from ten to forty feet in depth. 

Passing from the difficult Cafio de la Palma in the 
midst of swamps, the Caiio de Tortuguero is reached, the 
entrance to which from the sea is called Cuatro Esquinas. 
It is approximately thirty-eight miles long, about one thou- 
sand feet in width, with a depth of from fifty to sixty feet. 
The rivers Palacio and Penetencia, navigable for boats, 
empty into this caiio. The River Tortuguero, which gives 
name to the plains watered by its affluents, is formed from sev- 
eral of these oafios, as the Cafio Desenredo, Cafio Agua Fria 
and Cafio de la Lomas. The Caiio de Tortuguero communi- 
cates with the Parismina by the cafios California and Fran- 
cisco Moria Soto, which are also navigable. The margins of 
the Parismina are swampy. It has as its afifluents the Guas- 
imo, Camaron, Novillos and the Destierro. 

The lower district drained by the Tortuguero is raised 
but little above the ocean, and in flood time the river com- 
municates by several cafios with the Matina and with the 
delta of the Colorado, as well as with the lagoon of Caiman, 
lying south of the Colorado. Its numerous upper streams 
rise in the spurs of Irazu and Turialba. 

The Sierpe and Parismina rivers flow into the sea south 
of Tortuguero. The former is short, but th-e Parismina with 
its several branches is a child of Irazu. Its lower course is 
sometimes considered to be a part of the River Reventazon, 
which however has its confluence with the former ■ a few 
miles from the sea. 

The Reventazon River has carved its way to a profound 
depth around the south and southeastern bases of Irazu and 
Turialba, and, flanking the latter volcano, it turns northward 
to join the Parismina. It receives many tributaries from the 
northern slope of the Talamanca range, and interweaves its 



19 

head waters with those of the Rio Grande de TarcoUes and 
the Rio Grande de Pirris, which flow into the Pacific Ocean. 

The Pacuare River, once known as Suerre, enters the 
sea about half way between the mouth of the Reventazon and 
that of the Matina. Its waiters, in 1630, instead of flowing 
to the sea, joineid the Reventazon, closing the port of Suerre, 
but in 165 1 Governor Salinas closed the northern channel, 
deflecting its waters and restoring the port. 

The Matina River is a short stream with a large volume 
of water, which enters the sea just north of Port Limon near 
the roadstead of Moin, where, up to 1880, ocean craft an- 
chored. The River Matina is navigable by small steamers 
over the bar and by large ones above the bar to the point 
where it receives its principal affluents, the Chirripo, Barbilla 
and Zent. It yearly overflows its lower valley, depositing an 
inch or two of exceedingly fertile mud highly appreciated 
by the banana planters. 

The entire mainland of the coast, from the River Colo- 
rado to the iMatina, is separated from the Caribbean Sea by 
a continuous narrow sand bank, between which and the main- 
land is a lagoon, said to be navigable the whole distance by 
boats. The intermediate rivers pour into this narrow lagoon, 
driving their currents across it, and, cutting through the sand 
bank, enter the sea. Sometimes a violent gale closes one of 
the openings, which are all shallow, but the river again forces 
an exit to the ocean through the obstruction. This whole 
coast for sixty-five miles, is forbidding and dangerors, and has 
but little depth of water within a mile of the shore, upon 
which a monotonous, heavy surf breaks during the entire 
year. It is only frequented from April until August by fisher- 
men, who find their way to the River San Juan through the 
intricate system of rivers and oafios described. 

Port Limon, in latitude 10° north and longitude 
83° 3' 13" west from Greenwich, is the only port of entry of 
Costa Rica on the Caribbean Sea. The first house was built 
there in 1871. The harbor faces the south, and is formed by 
a little peninsula on which Limon is situated. It is behind a 
narrow coral reef. The site, which now has perhaps 3500 
to 4000 population, is being raised with earth about four 



20 

feet, and its port will become one of the smoothest of the 
Caribbean Sea. A sm>all island, called Uvita, lies east at a dis- 
tance of 3660 feet from the town. Port Limon has a wooden 
pier 930 feet long, accommod'ating two sea-going s'hips, bat 
an iron pier is about to replace it, which will berth four large 
ones of deep draught. 

The Talamanca coast lying south of Limon is low, flat 
and swampy, except where it is broken by hills. The little 
River Banana is the first one met with going south, and its 
valleys produce large quantities of timber and bananas. Next 
co'mes the Estrella, also a short stream; then follows the 
Teliri, called in its lower course the Sicsola. It is the 
largest stream in Costa Rica south of Port Limon. It runs 
along the southern base of the great eastern mountains of the 
Talamianca range, through a spacious, undulating, wooded 
valley of 100 to 150 square miles area, partly low grounds, 
in some places dry and in others swampy. It has sev- 
eral branches, like the Uren coming from the slopes of the 
Pico Blanco, the Supurio and others. At the entry of the 
high valleys of the Teliri and Coen rivers, the pyramid-like 
mountains of Nefomin and Nenfiobete appear, at the foot of 
which the interior plain of Talaman'oa, fifteen kilometers in 
length and eight kilometers in width, extends from south- 
west to northeast, and so uniformly that the water courses run 
indifferently and frequently change their beds. 

Southward of Sicsola is the Tilorio or Changuinola, 
which makes a tur'bulent way to the sea from the Tal- 
amanca mountains. Along its lower margin mud flats 
spread to a great width, and, from its mouth towards the 
northwest, cover a region which surrounds also the lagoon 
of Sansan, and extends up the rivers Zhorquin and Sicsola. 
Behind the muddy zone the lands rise rapidly into hills, which 
in a few miles reach an altitude of several thousand feet, at 
times intermingling with the Cordillera. Along the entire sea 
margin of Talamanca runs a narrow sand belt of firm land, 
at times not a hundred feet wide, like that described between 
the Matina and San Juan rivers. 

Within this sandbelt are long, narrow, deep lagoons 
filled with ihalf-stagnant water from the mud flats. These 



21 



lagoons usually open into the rivers which descend from the 
mountains. 

Between the Sicsola and the Tilorio lies the already 
m-entioned, crooked and deep lagoon called the Laguna de 
Sansan. 

At Limon, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, the hills, which are 
connected by spurs with the more elevated country of the 
interior, extend to the ocean coast. Between them, in plains 
extending from one to five miles inland, are forest-covered 
swam-ps, overflowed with not less than ten feet of water in 
the rainy season and only traversable in the dry. 

Cosita Rica claims sovereignty on the Atlantic side 
southeast as far as the Island of Escudo de Veragua, includ- 
ing the ancient Ducado de Veragua, whose frontier follows 
the coast of Chiriqui Viejo to the crest of the Cordillera, and 
crosses it to the headwaters of the River Calobebora, then 
down this stream to the Escudo de Veragua. 

Since their independence Colombia and Costa Rica have 
been in dispute in regard to their boundary line. Colombia 
has never ceased to claim jurisdiction over the entire Carib- 
bean coastt of Costa Rica, and even over that of Nicaragua as 
far north as Cape Gracias a Dios. In November, 1896, both 
governments signed a convention submitting their dispute 
to the arbitration of the President of the French Republic, or, 
in the event of his failure to act, to the President of Mexico 
or of the Swiss Confederation. 

The principal lakes of Costa Rica are the Laguna Manati, 
northwest from the Sarapiqui River; the Lagunas de Poas 
and de Barba, each on a volcano bearing its name; Lagunas 
de Sansan and Samay, towards the east and near the Sicsola 
River, in Talamanca; Laguna Tenoria, in Guanacaste; La- 
guna San Carlos, in the plains of San Carlos; Laguna de 
Arenal, between Las Cafias and San Carlos, and Laguna de 
Sierpe, in the south, northward from the Golfo Duke. 

Far away from Costa Rica, in the Pacific Ocean, lies the 
Cocos Island, about two hundred and sixty-six miles to the 
southwest of the Golfo Dulce, in N. latitude 5° 32' 57" and 
longitude 86° 58' 25" W. of Greenwich. Its highest point 
reaches 2250 feet, wherce the descent is gradual to a bold. 



22 

Steep coast, which has many irregularities and rocks and a 
surf-beaten shore. Chatham Bay is its best hafbor, having 
room for a dozen ships. The interior is broken into numer- 
ous fertile valleys, but ithere is probably not a square kilo- 
meter of level ground in the entire island. Other islands are 
Chira, Vena!do, San Lucas, Cafio, etc. 

Mineral Wealth. — 'In regard to the mineral wealth of 
Costa Rica, petroleum has been discovered near Uruchiko 
on the Talam'anca coast, and coal in certain sandstone forma- 
tions on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the Talamanca 
section. 

In the province of Alajuela, a little to the north of the 
cart road which runs from San Jose to Puentarenas, is Monte 
Aguacate, part of an old mountain range which extends far 
to the northwest, and not very distant from the Gulf of 
Nicoya. In general, it is of metamorphic formation, prin- 
cipally of diorite and porphyry. 

Here, in a good climate, at 2000 feet elevation, are found 
auriferous veins of great richness. They are of quartz mixed 
with decomposed feldspathic rocks, and have yielded very lu- 
crative bonanzas. The first mine was Guapinol, one bonanza 
of which produced $1,000,000. Several other mines were 
worked, from one of which (Los Castros) $2,000,000 Vi^ere 
taken in a few years. It is estimated, from the best data ob- 
tainable, that about i 1,000,000 have been taken from Monte 
Aguacate. Several of these veins are from six to seven feet 
wide, but that called the Quebrada Honda is sixteen feet wide. 
Most of the ore is of a high grade and of refractory character. 
It is probable that the whole southwestern slope of the 
Guatusos and Miravalles ranges of mountains is auriferous. 
The rocks in the northwestern extension of this district con- 
sist principally of feldspar, porphyry, basalt and dolorite. 

The gold veins nearly all run northeast and southwest, 
and are encased in feldspar, sometimes in porphyry, and occa- 
sionally in basalt. They consist, in great part, of crystalline 
quartz, and are from two to forty feet wide. Professor Pittier 
also found gold in the slopes of the Buena Vista mountain. 
Gold is further found in the Talamanca mountains, especially 



23 

in the placer grounds of the Duedi River, and on the inferior 
hills between the Lari and Coen rivers. 

Along the latter, and near Akbeta, also on the shore of 
Puerto Viejo, iron exists. 

Copper and silver. Professor Pittier says, have been dis- 
covered in Diquis, between Paso Real and Lagarto, and 
native copper in Puriscal. Other mines are included in the 
following table: 



The Principal Mines Registered in J 892. 



Name of Mine. 



Canton. 



h& Trinidad ...... 

La Union 

Sacrafamilia 

La Minita . . 

Mina de los Castros . 

San Rafael 

Mina de los Oreamiino . 
Quebrada Honda . . . . 

Machuca 

Trinidad de Aguacate 

Peiia Grande 

Mina de Acosta . . . 

Palmares 

Las Concavas .... 

Mancuerna 

Mata Palo 

Puerta de Palacio . . 
Hoja Chiques . . 
Chapernal 



Esparza . 
Puntarenas 
Alajuela . 



San Ramon 



Cartago . 
Sardinal . 



lyocation. 



Rio Ciruelitas . . . 
Shores of Rio Seco . 
Monte de Aguacate 

Corralillo . . . 



Product. 



Quebrada Honda 
corralillo .... 



Cerro de San Ramon 
Shores of Rio Jesus 
Cordillera de Aguacate 
Rio de Agua Caliente 
Sardinal 



Gold and silver ores. 



Gold, silver and lead ores. 
Copper ore. 



It should be stated that, with the exception of gold and 
some silver, little is mined. The deposits of coal, petroleum, 
copper and silver have thus far yielded, under present methods 
of management, outputs of no commercial value. 

However, anthracite is found at Santa Maria Dota, De- 
partment of Puriscal. A specimen of it, analyzed by Dr. 
L. J. Matos^ chief of the laboratories of the Philadelphia Com- 
mercial Museum, gave these results: 

It is a good quality of anthracite coal and compares very 
favorably with the best grades that are mined in Pennsyl- 
vania. Color, black; slight tendency to show irridescence; 
fracture, conchoidal, brittle; analysis, specific gravity, 1,343; 
weight per cubic foot, 83.93 pounds. 



24 

Proximate composition : 

Moisture 2.60 per cei^t. 

Volatile matter 3.56 

Fixed carbon 88.20 

Ash 5.64 



Total 100 

Sulphur 4319 

Coke 93-84 

Coke per ton of coal 2002.01 pounds. 

Fuel value 9.14 " 

Fuel ratio •. 1:24.77 

There are to be mentioned also some rnineral waters, as, 
for instance, those near the mouth of the Isqui River, on the 
Talamanca coast; those in Agua. CaHente, about five miles 
from the City of Cartag'o and belonging to the Bella Vista 
Company; those of Orosi and Salitral, of Poas, Miravalles, 
Ausoles, Bagaces, San Carlos, Liberia, San Roque, etc. 



II. 



CLIMATE OF COSTA RICA. 



The climate of Costa Rica depends on its situation in 
tlie tropics, on the position of the sun at different times of 
the year, and on the topography, but, owing to the narrow- 
ness of the country and its situation between the two great 
oceans, it is well-tempered by the alisios (northeast trades) 
and other winds. 

I begin this chapter with the following table which gives 
the 

Meteorological Conditions in San Jose During the Year 1896. 









Temperature in 


C.° 


Kvapora- 
tion. 


Humidity. 


Atm'sph'ic 
Pressure. 




Max. 


Min. 


Average. 


Average. 


Average. 


Average 
in mm. 










Per 


cent. 




January . . . 


28.5 


10.8 


18.60 


26.97 


78 


66586 


February 






31.8 


10.5 


19.24 


33-97 


74 


665.39 


March . 






32.4 


12.2 


19.84 


42.77 


70 


665.38 


April . . 






28.4 


14.8 


20.13 


19.65 


84 


664.87 


May . . 






29.2 


15.8 


20.10 


19.84 


83 


665.32 


June . . 






28.8 


14.9 


20.32 


18.67 


84 


665.09 


July . . 






29.2 


15.8 


20.10 


19.84 


83 


66532 


August . 






29.2 


14.7 


20.17 


22.81 


82 


664-38 


September 




26.6 


14.4 


19.97 


17.87 


85 


664.83 


October. . 




28.4 


14.8 


20.13 


19-65 


84 


664.87 


November 




29.0 


14.2 


19.78 


19-93 


84 


664.70 


December . . 


27.7 


11.9 


19-30 


25.29 


80 


665 36 


Average . . 


28.71 j 13.73 


19.81 


23-94 


81 


665.2: 



First Half of 1897. 





Temperature in C.° 


Evapora- 
tion. 


Humidity. 


Atm'sph'ic 
Pressure. 




Max. 


Min. 


Average. 


Average. 


Average. 


Average 
in mm. 


January . . . 
February . . . 
March .... 

April 

May 

June 


29-5 
31-9 
31-7 
32-7 
30.3 
293 


13. 1 
8.2 
10.9 
12.2 
14.0 
155 


19.25 
19.78 
20.51 
21.02 
20.52 
20.40 


Per 

30-77 
44.89 
36.68 
36.80 
24.29 
16.40 


cent. 

. 78 
70 
72 
74 
82 
85 


665.53 
466.52 
665.70 

665.59 
665.52 
665.32 



(25) 



26 

The average atmospheric pressure of San Jose, the cap- 
ital of the country, is 665.21 mm. The maximum oc- 
curs regularly during the -months from October to March 
inclusive, at nine o'clock a. m., and during the rest of the year 
at eleven o'clock p. m. The minimum occurs always in the 
afternoon at four o'clock during the first eight months of the 
year, and at three o'clock during the last four months. 

The prevailing wind is fro^m the northeast, or, better, 
north-northeast and east. During August, September and 
October an increase of the northwest winds causes the 
heavy rains of that season. West-northwest and northwest 
winds blow also from May to August. 

The daily variation of winds is generally as follows : 
At seven a. m. the most frequent winds blow from S. E., 
to N. E. ; at ten o'clock a. m, from E. to N. N. E; at one 
o'clock and at four o'clock p. m. from E. N. E. to N.; from 
seven o'clock p. m. the movement is retrograde. The veloc- 
ity is least from seven to ten o'clock a. m., and most from one 
to four o'clock p. m. 

In 1889, during the time of observations at San Jose, 
there were noted 13 hours of north winds, 186 N. N. E., 
571 N. E., 227 E. N. E., 93 E., 58 E. S. E., 25 S. E., 6 S. S. E., 
S. none, S. S. W. none, i S. W., 3 W. S. W., 4 W., 83 
W. N. W. 

The number of calms is small. The wind is nearly al- 
ways moderate, but during the dry season the dust whirled up 
in the cities is very disagreeable. The climate of the uplands 
is an eternal spring. 

The coldest month is January; December and February 
are relatively cold. The hottest months are May and June. 
The heat is, at all times, moderate and agreeable. The course 
of the temperature has all the characters of an insular climate, 
without having so much humidity. The oscillation of the 
average temperature is greatest in March and during the dry 
season, as at that time the sky is clear and the soil exposed 
to uninterrupted insolation during the day, while the earth's 
radiation of heat during the night is rapid. Also the daily 
oscillation is considerable during the dry season, and continues 
during the first month of the rainy season, according to the 
condition of the sky. 



27 

In 1890 the sun shone in San Jose 191 1 hours, that is an 
averag-e of five hours and fourteen minutes per day. Febru- 
ary is the month of most sunshine and least nebulosity. The 
hour of mosit sunshine during the year is that between eight 
and nine a. m., and that of the least is in the afternoon. 

The oscillation of the temperature of the soil is, at a 
depth of one meter, 2, 13° C, per year. At a depth of three 
meters, the temperature of the soil is lowest in February and 
March, when it is 20, 48° C, and highest in August, when it 
is 20, 75° C. 

The daily variation is almost nothing during the first 
three m'onths of the year, and the sky is relatively clear, 
while, from May to October, not one day is clear. During 
the hottest hours of the day the sky begins regularly to be 
darkened by clouds, due to ascending atmospheric currents. 

In San Jose the sky is ordinarily clear between midnight 
and noon, even during the most rainy mo>nths, and cloudy 
the rest of the twenty-four hours. Although the rainfalls are 
abundant here from May to October, with rare exceptions 
they do not last more than a few hours each day. The morn- 
ings are generally splendid and the air very pure, and nearly 
every day the sunset can be clearly observed. 

From May to November there are about two hours of 
copious rain daily between oue and four o'clock in the after- 
noon, averaging, with great regularity, from ten to twelve 
inches a month, and from seventy to eighty inches during 
the year. Towards the end of June there is a short dry period 
called "Veranillo de San Juan." 

Through the Desengafio and Palma Passes the northern 
rains penetrate a short distance every day, and the northern 
descent of the Palma towards Carillo is probably the most 
rainy district of the Republic. 

At Tres Rios, having an elevaition of 4140 feet, six miles 
east of San Jose, at the western foot of the Ochomogo Pass, 
the rain record for 126 days out of ten months showed a fall 
of 100 inches, while at San Jose, during the same period of 
ten months there were 147 rainy days, with a fall of eighty- 
four inches. In the month of May Professor Pittier, to whom 
we owe these excellent data, measured nine inches in rainfall in 
one and one-half hours. 



28 



a* 



a 



I 



u 

ON 

CO 






>< 


•mm 


S - 1 1 1 


O 1-1 OOO w N 
S COCOW 1 CH ■* 1 
COOO COt>. 1 t^vO 1 
CO 0« M 11 MM 


1 


•sXBa §""■''' SS'&H'' E'?' ' 




•mm 1 '3§.'- ^^S^iJ^^S* 5"" '"'*'- 


•S/isa IN ^. tN M M M CS M (N « 


> 

o 


1 vo ooo^^ot>»u^a^o■■d-oo 

•ram 1 5:?-p,^S-5?j:?£^^g>^^- 


1 r^ so vo OS Ov c^vo vo lo o>oo os 

•sXBa M^. i-ii-,«i-i««««i-,«w^. 


o 

O 


■rara 


« vo-^i-i«"<^lOOM-i^Ot^N 1 
VOo.. Oi-iNTj-COCSCOTf-a-Ol-i- 1 


" CS N N 


■ 


■sXbq 


ID iHi-iMloOO^t^-^MOiOON 


i 


1 0\ lO O "<d-(» Tj- 1-^ (-^ 0\ O t^OO VO 


1 Tl- Tj- N Tl- Tj- M 00 CM- ►- CO Tf M 


3 


•UlTO 


l> ^00 cot~.Tftsvo cs r^TfO CO 

t^_ . 1-1 t^OO C»OC^"<i-t^NCSM-^ 


•sXBa 


CO ID CO M O COVO O O t^ r^ O 00 
C^^. NC-lMOlC-JM COM"" 


1— > 


rara 


O - O^^ O lOVO CO M t^ CO C in CO 
■*'^' CO«N«CSi-il-icOtHCSMi-i 


1 •<*• "<;^oo o- lo M r^ M o i-i ovo co 

■SiCea f)^. ««MPlDMMCOMl-.«M 


3 
1—1 


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c^ 0*1 ir^cocoO'iNini i 
r^p.. ool locsiocoloovol 1 


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CO M 1 1 t^ ONiO N 1 >0 0\ 1 1 

l-lp.. l-ll ImMMmIi-IhI 1 


^ 

s 


I (s Mitr^orooicot^ii 
•rara fff- g!) ' ' ?? fr " « « « ' ' 


•sXbq 


"p.. i-il Ini-ii-i>-iIi-i«I 1 


p. 
< 


•rara g"-^ 1 'vS^^S 1 J??' ' 


1 S" S" 1 1 H S*2 2 12 2 1 1 




•ram i*^. CO 1 1 ^ -r N 1 11 


•SiCBQ -1-. " 1 1 M M II II 




1 Ti-ocoi io>o\rivo|0| 1 1 
•ram "SS?" 


•sXbq 


ic '2||222"|°f|l 


•-> 


•utni 


0). <s CO W M 


•sXbq 


!?^. 1 1 1 ss;?'-i 2^ 1 1 




PI M\C<0 -"l-CO-^l-N M mOO 








P, . 

. .Ofl .5 . 


o 

2 

1 


C« . . . 

sa 

01 • • ■ 

a . . . 

« 111 

•a jW^> 
OO 3rt 2 


Mo I* 

-^ .t; '^ .I . 

3 _^ .S « 

H •'3 J " ■ c 

^ • t« MS 5<; JJ 

3 .rt.aS2gf 

c8.Srtfl"t33'^ 



29 

The daily curve of rainfall shows a minimum very ac- 
centuated in the first half of the day. Rain begins to fall 
about eleven o'clock, and continues to augment rapidly from 
hour to hour until it reaches its maximum between four and 
five o'clock p. m.; fro'm this time on it diminishes gradually 
until morning. The daily maximum of rain is reached about 
sunset, although in January the heaviest rainfalls are ob- 
served between one and two o'clock p. m. The most prob- 
able hour of rain is between four and five o'clock p. m. It 
seldom rains between three and four o'clock, and very seldom 
during the morning hours. 

Thunderstorms reach their maximum in May. The rela- 
tive humidity of the air is such that the climate can be con- 
sidered a favored one. Its annual curve shows three minima 
and three maxima. The minima are observed between Feb- 
ruary an-d March, in July, and between November and De- 
cember; the maxima in June, September and December. 
These lines, of course, are parallel with those indicating the 
distribution of rain. The maximum is noted at sunrise, the 
minimum at two o'clock p. m., with an average oscillation jf 
twenty-four per cent. 

From 1866 to 1880, the rain gauge record kept by Mason 
at San Jose shows a yearly average precipitation of sixty- 
four and one-fourth inches, or 163 1 millimeters. 

It is as follows: 

The Rainfall in San Tose from 1866 to 1880 in Mm. 



1866. . . . 

1867. . . . 

1868 . . . . 

1869 . . . . 

1870 . . . . 

1871 . . . . 
1872 . . . . 

1873. . • • 

1874. . . . 

1875. . . . 

1876. . . . 

1877. . . . 

1878. . . . 
iR-'g . . . . 
i88o. . . . 

Average 



208 222 



250 171 
213 244 



122 1619- 
14 1397- 



2Q9 266 I22I 35 1631 



1436 
1562 
1905 
1925 
2197 
I418 
1543 
1492 
1282 

'357 
1580- 
2193 
1562 



30 

There is every year a number of slight earthquakes in 
San Jose, generally undulating from west to west-'northwest, 
and occurring mostly between eleven p. m, and six a. m. The 
greatest number are observed at the beginning of the rainy 
season. 

The rainy season on the Caribbean slope of the country 
does not correspond to that of the Pacific. In fact there are 
no continuously dry months, and on the northern declivities 
of 'the volcanoes of Turialba, Irazu, Barba and Poas, it rains 
more or less during the entire year; also near Lake Nica- 
ragua it rains nearly continuously, and the mountains of the 
Guatuso country and the surroundings of the volcano of 
Orosi are seldom without clouds. At times there are cloud- 
bursts of tremendous power, broadening rivers for miles. 
Port Limon is said to have an annual rainfall of eighty-nine 
inches, but it is greatly exceeded by that of Colon, which 
averages 120 inches. The mean rainfall at Greytown for 
1890, 1891, 1892, was 267 inches yearly. The late United 
States Commission estimated the average at Lake Nicaragua 
at eighty inches, and in the basin of the San Juan River at 
150 inches. 

The climate of Talamanca is for the same reason very 
unhealthy in the proximity of the coast, and also in the lower 
course of the rivers a similarly deadly climate prevails. In 
normal years there are two dry and two wet seasons. The 
rains commence regularly in May or June and last until the 
end of July. The months of August and September are more 
•or less dry. In October there are some heavy showers, and 
extensive rains begin which characterize the months of No- 
vember, December and January. The driest months are 
February, March and April. The high region is extremely 
humid, giving rise to fogs and rains. The mosses which 
almost completely envelop the stems of the trees are con- 
stantly dropping water, and the rivers in this section are al- 
most impassable. 

The climate of the great valley of the Rio Grande de Ter- 
raba is similar to that described for the terrace lands. Both 
regions have distinctly marked characters. Rains begin in 
April, grow heavier towards September, and cease about the 



31 

end of November. During the rest of the year dry weather 
prevails, although sometimes heavy showers relieve this arid 
condition. In the lower zone pronounced radiation causes a 
heavy dew and extensive fogs, and both are characteristic of 
this section. 

The excessive heat felt on the lowlands diminishes grad- 
ually with the rising of the land towards the high moun- 
tains, but at times a height of 1500 feet will be found cooler 
than one of 3000 feet. In the Santa Clara district, for instance, 
it is cooler at 500 feet elevation than it is in the Reventazon 
valley at 1500 feet. In general, the torrid lands of the coun- 
try, ranging from the sea to 1 50 feet above it, and, if not clear 
and well-drained, even up to 400 and 500 feet, abound in 
malarial fevers; but as high ground, having an elevation of 
from 1500 to 3000 feet is reached, the fevers are of light 
type and not dangerous, while from 3000 to 5000 feet the 
diseases are those of the temperate zone, and are due less to 
local conditions of soil and climate than to personal neglect. 

There were no epidemic diseases in 1897. In October 
30, 1894, sixteen medical districts were established by law, 
and so were a number of hospitals and quarantine stations 
in the ports of the Republic. 



111. 



CHARACTER OF VEGETATION. 

This chapter I begin with a phyto-geographical classifica- 
tion given by Dr. Carl Hoffman and published in Bonplandia 
in 1858. He distinguishes: 

First. — Coast regions (sea shores and salt swamps). 

Second. — Regions of tropical forests and savannas, stretching 

from the coast regions to a height of 900 meters. 
Third. — Regions of high plains, lying between 900 to 1500 meters- 

of elevation. 
Fourth. — Region of upper tropical forests, situated between 

1500 to 2150 meters of altitude. 
' Fifth. — Region of oaks, from 2150 to 2750 meters in height. 
Sixth; — Region of chaparrales, from 2750 to 3050 meters up. 
Seventh. — Region of subalpine or subandine flora, from 3050- 

meters up to the tops of the high mountains. 

Dr. Polakowsky enumerates cultivated lands, virgin for- 
ests, open forests and savannas. 

Another division is given by Dr. Moritz Wagner. He 
mentions a literal zone, a tropical forest zone and a zone of 
savannas. 

He also distinguishes on the volcano of Chiriqui the fol- 
lowing successive regions: 

First. — Regions of evergreen forest trees and palms, bananas, 
Araceae, etc. , to a height of 550 meters, with an average tem- 
perature of 26° to 24° C. 

Second. — Region of tree ferns and mountain orchids, from 550 
to 1220 meters, with an average temperature of 23° to 18° C. 

Third, — Region of Rosaceae, Senecionodeae, Gramineae and 
Agave americana, from 1220 to 1585 meters. 

Fourth. — Region of Cupuliferae and Betulaceae, mostly oaks and. 
alders, from 1585 to 3050 meters. 

Fifth. — Higher region above 3050 meters. 

(32) 



33 

Dr. Wagner calls special attention to a noted uniformity 
of the flora on the coasts of both oceans, and Professor Pit- 
tier affirms that the vegetation between Colon and Greytown 
on one side, and between Panama and San Juan del Sur on 
the other side, is remarkably uniform. The litoral zone has 
a width of about four maritime miles. The predominating 
flora is composed of Rhizophora mangle, Hippomane man- 
cinella, Cocos micifcra, Chrysobalanus icaco, Crescentia 
ciijete, Aracia spadicigera, Cccsalpinia bonducella and other 
Legiwrinosce; Acrostichum aurciim, Ipomcea pescaprcB, Avi- 
cennia nitida, Uniola Pittierii and also Euphorbiacece, etc. 

The zone of tropical forests shows, especially on the 
Atlantic side behind the coast region, a strip of from twenty 
to twenty-two miles in width, with lofty trees of Rtibiacece, 
MyrtacecB, MelastomacecB, Stercidiaccce, EupkorbiacecB, 
Meliacece, Urticace^, Moracece, Anacardiaceco, Sapindacece[ 
Leguminosce and Palnice. It is relatively free from ligneous 
undergrowth, having more monocotyledonous plants, such' as 
Cycadecp, ScitaminecE, Cannaccce, MarantacecB, Cyperacess, 
Filiccs and Bromeliacece, underneath. The latter orders figure', 
also with Orchidece and Loranthacece among the epiphytes 
and parasites which cover the trees. Among the most char- 
acteristic plants of this region we name the coyol palm 
(Acrocomia), corozo (Attalea cohune), biscoyol (Bactris hor- 
rida), p-almiche (Elms melanococca) and Raphia nicaragitensis 
which forms almost forests along the River San Juan; 
further, Tecoma pentaphylla, Bombax ceiba, Eriodendron, 
Spondias, Croton gossypifolius, Hymencea courbaril, rubber 
trees (Castilloa costaricencis and C. elastica), GeoiTrcEa superba, 
Simaba cedron, species of Enterolobium, Ccesal pinia, Liquidam- 
bar, Copaifera, Cedrela, Szvietenia, Sapota, Pithecolobiimi, 
Palicourea, Cinchona, Piper, Ficus, Cecropia; still further, 
smilax, vanilla, etc.. Many of these characteristic plants are 
largely social, such as the piper, ferns, palms and others. 

Moritz Wagner states that all along the southern limits 
of Costa Rica a likeness of climatic and geological condi- 
tions gives to the vegetation a nearly uniform character, 
while further northward a notable contrast is observed be- 
tween the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of the mountain groups 



34 

and on the interior terrace lands. The Atlantic slope, with 
more constant humidity of air, is characterized by vast, dense, 
everg-reen, virgin forests, while the Pacific lands, with a rela- 
tively dry climate and rainless summer, present more open 
forests and savannas, with many deciduous trees and shrubs. 
However, deep river valleys and some slopes near the water- 
shed have dense, evergreen forests, and their vegetation does 
not differ much from that of the Atlantic slope. The flora of 
the high terrace lands has been so altered by thorough cul- 
tivation as to have almost lost its original character. 

The Atlantic virgin forests, as well as those m the region 
of the San Juan River and of Lake Nicaragua, which com- 
prise two-thirds of Costa Rican territory, show such a dense 
vegetation that its interior can be penetrated almo-st only 
by way of the rivers, and its general character and its enor- 
mous extension be studied only from high mountains. 
Owing to the very mountainous character of the country, 
over half of its area lies between 900 and 2100 meters above 
the sea, and is almost wholly covered with virgin forest. This 
forest here and there ascends still higher, reaching the upper 
limit of the oak region about 2700 meters above the sea. 

Dr. Polakowsky, in an interesting publication entitled 
"Flora of Costa Rica," calls the forest region of the San 
Juan River, in view of its luxuriant character, "The Central 
American Hylsea," and this name Professor Pittier applies 
also to the entire Atlantic region, attributing to it a distinctly 
South American character. 

The zone of the open forests and savannas, which has 
park-like features, is rarely found away from the Pacific side, 
where it forms a belt from sixteen to eighteen miles in width, 
interspersed with more densely forested river valleys, islands 
of higher and thicker virgin forests, isolated trees or groups 
of trees, sometimes also with catmgas and meadows flecked 
with shrubs and matorrales. 

The savannas and open forests spread to a considerable 
extent over Guanacaste, where they are a continuation of 
those of Rivas in Nicaragua; also over the plains of Terraba, 
especially in the region of Buenos Aires and Terraba; and 
over the coast-lands of Golfo Dulce. There are some 



35 

small similar tracts near Alajuela, Turialba, Santa Clara and 
at some other points, as well as catingas and paramos in the 
high mountain ridges of the south. The paramos are found 
on poor soil and have a vegetation more herbaceous than 
ligneous, which, when moist, takes on the character of turf. 

The trees of the savannas are generally of little height, 
■excepting the Enterolobium cyclocarpum (the guanacaste), 
the pochote and ceib'a. The grass lands are almost wholly 
Composed of GraminecB and Cyperacecs, especially in the 
savannas of Guanacaste. The most characteristic plants are 
Digitaria marginata and Paspalum notatum, besides species 
of Setaria, Panicum, Eragrostis, Andropogon, I sole pis, 
Cyperus, Rhynchospora and Scleria, as well as of ferns 
(Pteris aquilina) and Schiscea occidentalis. 

Other abundant plants in the open forests and savannas 
are Composite^ (Zemenia, Pedis, Spilanthes) ; RubiacecB 
(Spermacoce) ; Polygalacece; Iridacece; Moracece (Madura, 
Ficus) ; Mclastomacece (Miconia, Clidemia, Conostegia, Lcan- 
dra) ; Cyperacccc; Convolvidace<2; EuphorhiacecB ; Bombacacecs; 
Sauvagcsia. Further, Myrtacece (Psidium, Alibertia edidis) ; 
Ciiratella americana (chamico); Roupala (danto hedliondo); 
Byrsonima crassifolia (nance); Miconia argentea DC. 
(santa maria); guacimo macho (Luhea), guacimo de ternero 
(Guazuma idmifolia); burio (Bombax apeiba) ; iiambar 
(Cocobola) ; Ddvilla lucida; Duranta Phimieri; Proteacecs; 
and Acacia scleroxyla Lonchocarpus atropurpureus, Dalbergia 
and many other Lcguminosce, especially Mimosa pudica, 
which gives large tracts in many places a special character, 
.and still more so as, being often very abundant and the plants 
tangled together, a general movement all around is caused 
when one is touched. 

Among the epiphytes and parasites may be mentioned 
small ferns, Peperomia, Epidendrnm, Loranthiis, Aroide<2, 
Tillandsia and other Bromeliacece, mosses, Hchens, etc. 

Professor Pittier attributes to this flora of the Pacific 
slope a more northern origin. 

During the dry season the vegetation of the savannas 
almost disappears, the greater part of the trees and bushes 
shed their leaves and herbs become dry and brittle. Only 



36 

along the rivers is some freshness observable. Toward the- 
border of Nicaragua caoti appear, mostly species of Cereus, 
Opuntia, Phypsalis and Mammilaria. Professor Pittier also 
mentions an oak forest of Querciis citrifolia between Liberia, 
and the Rio de los Ahogados, at a height of about one hun- 
dred meters above the sea. The peninsula of Nicoya is noted 
for a large lumber industry among its different cedars (Cedra- 
duke, C. amargo, C. real, etc.), mora and other trees. Towards 
the upper limits of the Atlantic tropical forests, below the oak 
region, Chamcedorea, Geonoma, Bactris, Euterpe longe- 
petiolata and other palms of the same groups, as well as 
Gulielma utilis (the pijivalle palm) and Carludovica 
microphylla are seen in great abundance, mixed with tree 
ferns like Alsophylla pruinata, Hemitelia horrida, Hemitelia 
grandifolia, etc. Higher up appears the region of oaks, prin- 
cipally Quercus retusa, Quercus granulata, Quercus citrifolia 
and Querciis costaricensis, with Buddleia alpina, Ruhus, Lu- 
pinus, etc. Here is also the region of the common potato 
This oak region slopes gradually down from east to west. The 
vegetation on the summits of the high mountains of Costa- 
Rica is of a marked subalpine character, having a great num- 
ber of northern genera, as Vacciniiim, Pernettya, AlchcmiUa, 
Cardamine, Calceolaria, Spircea, etc. 

Certain types of vegetation are often more due to the- 
sterile nature of the soil than to elevation. 

Although a northern flora is frequent on the high ter- 
races of San Jose and Cartago, that character is not general 
because of the introduction of cultivated tropical and other- 
plants peculiar to Costa Rica. 

On the southern bigh mountains two species of Podo- 
carpus (P. taxi-folia and P. salici folia), one of Alnus (Alnus 
Mirbelii Spach.) and one of Weinmannia occur quite generally 
among the oak forests. Other distinct floral groups are rep- 
resented by the vegetation along roads and fences, on 
potreros, in cultivated regions and along river shores. The 
latter especially are rich in herbaceous plants, grasses, bushes 
and woods of Bignoniacece, Myrtacece, Euphorbiacece, Mimoserc, 
etc. 

The potreros are characterized by Tagetes, Sida, Hyptis,. 



37 

Solanum, Salvia, Mimosa pudica and M. sensitiva, etc. 
Along fences there grow nearly everywhere Erythrina coral- 
lodendron, Yucca aloifolia, Bromelia pinguin. Agave ameri- 
■cana, Cereus, Spondias, Bursera, Cestrum, etc. 

Prominent characteristic plants, besides the already men- 
tioned species and g-enera, are the Piperacecs and Melas- 
■tomacece; further, species of Iriartea, Bactris and Raphia of 
the palm order, and Alsophylla, Schiscea occidentalis and 
Pteris aquilina 'of the ferns; still further Castilloa costaricana, 
Gunnera insignis, Ochroma lagopus, Gliciridia, Inga edulis, 
Chusquea maurofernandesiana, Erythrina corallodendron, 
Drymis Winterii Forst., Acacia Farnesiana, etc. 

The passage from one flora to another is one of insensi- 
ble gradations. Cultivated lands, as already stated, do not 
show any longer the original vegetation. 

The plants which are now mostly cultivaited are: Coffea 
arabica (cofifee), Saccharum ofUcinarum (sugar cane), Zea 
mays (corn), Musa paradisiaca and Musa sapienfium 
(bananas), Phaseolus (beans), Oryza sativa (rice), Solanum 
tuberosum (potato), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). Batatas 
dulcis (sweet potato), Ly coper sicum esculentum and Lyco- 
pcrsicum Humboldtii (tomiatoes). Capsicum annuum (chile). 
Ananas sativa (pine-apple), Carica papaya (papaya), Persea 
gratissima (aguacate), Anona cherimolia (cherimoya), Mani- 
hot aipi and Manihot utilissima (yucca or mandioca), In- 
■digofera anil (indigo), Gossypium barbadense (cotton), 
Cichorimn Intyous (chicory), Asparagus officinalis (aspar- 
agus), Psidium guava (guayaba), Mammea americana 
(maniey), Theobroma cacao (oacao), etc. 

Before giving the lists of the woods, tannings, dyeings, 
gums, balsams, resins, rubber, waxes, textile and medicinal 
plants, oils and oil seeds, etc., of Costa Rica, it is advantageous 
to research to name those collectors and scientists who, hav- 
ing traveled through' Costa Rica or established themselves 
there, have especially contributed to the knowledge of the 
-natural resources of the country. They are Professor H. Pit- 
tier, A. S. Oersted, Dr. C. Hofifmann, Dr. H. Polakowsky, 
Dr. M. Wagner, Captain J. Donnel Smith, C. Warszewicz, 
Neudland, A. Tonduz, P. Biolley, Dr. A. von Frantzius, Dr. 



38 

Franc Kuntze, Professor W. M. Gabb, Jose C. Zeledon, 
Anastasio Alfaro, Juan J. Cooper, and Bish'op Bernardo 
Augusto Thiel, D. D. 



Native Names of the Woods of Costa Rica. 



Acacia, 

Aceituno, 

Aceituno bianco, 

Aguacate bianco, 

Aguacatillo, 

Aguilla, 

Algarroba, 

Almendro, 

Alvahaquilla, 

Amapola, 

Amarillo, 

Anona Colorado, 

Anonilla, 

Anono, 

Arco, 

Arbol Colorado, 

Arbol de la leche, 

Aromo, 

Arrayan, 

Asca, 

Avellano, 

Aya, 

Aya bianco, 

Aya Colorado, . 

Azaharillo, 

Azulillo. 

Balsa, 

Balsamito, 

Balsamo, 

Balsamo negro, 

B&rillo, 

Bateo, 

Berenjena, 

Brasil moral, 

Brasil negro, 

Brazil, 

Brazil de clavo, 

Brazil nacar, 

Burio, 

Burillo. 

Cachimbo, 

Cacique, 

Cacique amarillo. 

Cacique pardo, 

Caimito, 

Camibar, 

Campana, 

Campanilla, 

Canafistola, 

Canasto, 



Canela or Canelon, 

Canjura, 

Cantarillo, 

Caobana, 

Copalillo, 

Capulin, 

Caragua, 

Carao macho, 

Carao silvestre, 

Carboncillo, 

Carbon fino, 

Carne, 

Caroto, 

Cas, 

Cascarillo, 

Casco-cafe, 

Castaiio, 

Castor cillo, 

Cedro amargo, 

Cedro bianco, 

Cedro caoba leon, 

Cedro cirrus, 

Cedro claro, 

Cedro ctibano, 

Cedro dulce, 

Cedro dulce claro, 

Cedro dulce-ondulado, 

Cedro jaspeado, 

Cedro macho, 

Cedron, 

Cedro naranjena, 

Cedro ondulado, 

Cedro pochote, 

Ceiba, 

Cerillo, 

Cerro, 

Chancho, 

Chaparro, 

Cherre, 

Chaperno, 

Chaperno amarillo, 

Chaperno bianco, 

Chaperno veteado, 

Chavecho, 

Chicha, 

Chilamate, 

Chile, 

Chilillo, 

Chirraca, 

Cirri, 

Clavellina, 



Cobola, 

Cocobola, 

Cocobola nambar, 

Cocora, 

Colloso, 

Comenegro de monte, 

Conchudo, 

Copal, 

Copalchi, 

Copalite verde, 

Copulchin, 

Copiilchin bianco, 

Coquito, 

Corazon, 

Corazon de leon, 

Cordoncillo, 

Carnezuelo, 

Corteza, 

Corteza amarilla, 

Corteza blanca, 

Corteza de venado,, 

Corteza negra, 

Cristal, 

Cristobal 

Cuajiniquil, 

Cuascua, 

Cucaracho, 

Culebra, 

Cura, 

Curacha. 

Damas, 

Dantisco, 

Dan to, 

Danto amarillo, 

Danto barcino, 

Danto bianco, 

Danto hedliondo. 

Encino roble, 

Escoba, 

Escobillo, 

Escobo, 

Esparei, 

Espavel, 

Espino bianco. 

Flor blanca, 
Flor de aroma, 
Frijolillo, 
Fruta de pava,. 



39 



Fubus, 
Furru, 
Fustete. 

Gavilaii Colorado, 

Gavilan, 

Gavilancillo, 

Gallinazo, 

Genizaro, 

Golondrino, 

Guachazo negro, 

Guachipilin, 

Guachipilin claro. 

Guachipilin oscuro, 

Guachi raton, 

Guacimo, 

Guacimo amarillo, 

Guacimo bianco, 

Guacimo macho, 

Guacimo monillo, 

Guacimo ternero, 

Guanacaste, 

Guapinol, 

Guapinol tier no, 

Guatil or Jagua, 

Guavo, 

Guavo silvestre, 

Guayabillo, 

Guayabito, 

Guayacan, 

Guayacan amarillo, 

Guayacan de costa, 

Guayacan oscuro, 

Guayavo, 

Giiitite. 

Habilla, 

Haya, 

Higuera, 

Hormigo, 

Huesillo, 

Hule. 

Ira, 

Ira amarillo, 
Ira bianco, 
Ira bofo, 
Ira Colorado, 
Ira mangle, 
Ira, rosa. 

Jaboncillo, 

Jamaico, 

Jaul, 

Jicaro, 

Jiiiocuave, 

Jobo, 

Jorobado, 

Juaquiniquil. 



Lagartillo, 
Lagarto, 

Lagarto amarillo, 
Lagarto negro, 
Landal, 
Lentisco, 
Lentisco oscuro, 
Laurel barcino. 
Laurel claro. 
Laurel espino. 
Laurel negro, 
Laurel oscuro. 
Laurel pardo, 
Laurel veteado, 
Llema de huevo, 
Lliguatil, 
Lloro, 
Lloron, 
Lloron puire, 
Lope, 
Lorito. 

Madera de hierro, 

Madera negra, 

Maderon, 

Madrono blanca, 

Madroiio corteza, 

Madroiio de comer, 

Makenge, 

Malacaliuite, 

Malacalmite blanca, 

Mangle, 

Mangle morigiiite, 

Manglero, 

Mango, 

Mano, 

Manzana rosa, 

Manzanillo, 

Maranon, 

Maria, 

Mario, 

Mastate, 

Mastatillo, 

Mayo, 

Melon, 

Molenillo, 

Mora decipina, 

Moral bianco. 

Moral leonado. 

Moral listado, 

Moral negro, 

Morante, 

Mora punteado. 

Morale, 

Mora tinta, 

Muiieco, 

Muiieco macho, 

Murta. 



Nambar negro, 
Nance, 

Nance tricore, 
Nancite, 

Nancite Colorado, 
Naranjillo, 
Naranjito, 
Nispero amarillo, 
Nispero Colorado, 
Nispero espino, 
Nispero negro. 

Ocotillo, 

Ojoche, 

Olmo. 

Pacaya, 

Pacaya baton, 

Palanco amarillo, 

Palanco nudoso, 

Palma, 

Palma de mano, 

Palma real, 

Palmiche, 

Palo azul, 

Palo de sal, 

Palo frio, 

Palo jabon, 

Papaturro bianco, 

Papaturro negro, 

Papayo almendro, 

Papelillo, 

Paraiso, 

Pastora, 

Pava, 

Pava macho, 

Pavilla veteado. 

Peine de mico, 

Pejivalle, 

Piedrilla, 

Pipa or Mora bianco 

Plomillo, 

Pocara, 

Pochote, 

Poro cerrado, 

Poroporo, 

Pure 

Quajiniquil, 
Quiebracha Colorado, 
Quiebra hacha, 
Quina, 
Quita calzon, 
Quitirri, 

Quizarra amarillo, 
Quizarra baboso, 
Quizarra bofo, 
Quizarracillo, 
Quizarra clara, 



40 



Quizarra barcii 
Quizarra ira, 
Quizarra negro, 
Quizarra quina, 
Quizarra zopilote. 

Ramal, 

Raspaguacal, 

Raton, 

Raton bianco, 

Ratoncillo, 

Resino, 

Roble, 

Roble angular, 

Roble de la laguna, 

Roble de sabana, 

Roble encino, 

Ronron, 

Ronron veteado. 



Sabino, 



Sandalo, 

oangre de toro, 

Sangre de drago, 

San Juan, 

San Juan dulce, 

San Juanillo, 

Sierrillo, 

Siete cueros, 

Siete cueros machos, 

Simaruba, 

Sirri, 

Siva, 

Sota caballo. 

Tamarindo, 

Targua, 

Ticuarri, 

Tirra, 

Torco, 

Tres huevos, 

Tuiquisirrie. 



Uiscoyol or Viscoyol, 
Uruca or Teregre. 

Vara blanca, 
Viscoyol (palm). 

Yabo, 

Yabo bianco, 

Yas, 

Yocote iguana, 

Yos. 

Zapote mico, 

Zapotillo, 

Zapotillo danto, 

Zenicero, 

Zenicero-ocre, 

Zorillo. 



Native Names of the Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica. 



Acedera, 
Agra, 
Ajo, 

Alcornoque, 
Albahaca, 
Alcotan, 
Algabia, 

Algabia or Abelmoscus, 
Almendro (Papayo Col- 
orado), 
Almendrillo aromatico, 
Alucema, 
Amapola, 
Anisillo, 
Anona, 
Anonillo, 
Apasote, 

Apasote de mexico, 
Artemisa. 

Balsamito, 

Balsamo copal, 

iBalsamo negro, 

JBarbasco, 

Barbas ilote (Cabello 

de maiz), 
Borraja. 

Cacao gigante, 

Camibar, 

Campanula blanca, 

Canchalagua, 

Canchillo, 

Candelillo, 

Canela,, 



Cana gigantea, 

Caiia agria, 

Cana fistula, 

Capitana, 

Capitaneja, 

Carao, 

Cardo santo amarillo, 

Cardo santo bianco, 

Chamomila, 

Cola de alacran, 

Contrayerba, 

Copal, 

Copalcbi, 

Copalchi guisarra, 

Copey, 

Cordoncillo, 

Cornezuelo, 

Croton, 

Cucanillo, 

Culantrillo. 

Doradilla. 

Eneldo, 
Escoba blanca, 
Escorzonera, 
Esparto. 

Fierrito, 

Frutas de cornezuela. 

Guacamayo, 
Guachara, 
Guacimo negro, 
Guaco, 



Guaco redondo (vine), 

Guas molenillo, 

Guanacaste, 

Guapinol, 

Guayacan amarillo, 

Guarumo, 

Guizaro. 

Higuerilla, 
Hanojo, 
Hojasen, 
Hombre grande. 

Inga carao. 
Ipecacuanha. 

Jabillo, 
Jabon vegetal, 
Jinote terebinto, 
Jobo amarillo, 
Jiquaitil, 
Juanilama. 

Laurel real, 

Lechuguilla or Carraja, 
Lengua de ciervo, 
Lengua de vaca, 
Liquidambar, 
Ivlanten, 
Lombricero. 

Majaguilla, 
Malva, 
Manzanilla, 
Marango, 



41 



Maranon, 

Matasano, 

Mejorana, 

Meloncillo, 

Michoacan, 

Mozote de caballo. 

Naranja, 
Naranja agria, 
Nuez moscada. 

Ojoche macho, 
Ojoche rojo, 
Oregomo, 
Orosus, 
Ortiga. 

Palo leche, 
Paraiso, 
Petrona, 
Peine de mico, 
Pichichio solano, 
Pie de venado, 
Platanillo, 
Pochoche macho, 
Polipodio. 

■Quina, 



Quina Colorado, 
Quassia hombre grande. 

Raiz de toro, 

Reina de la noche, 

Romero, 

Ruda, 

Ruibarbo. 

Sacaguacal, 
Sacate limon, 
Sagu, 
Salvia, 
Samo, 

Sangre de drago Colo- 
rado, 
Sangre de toro, 
Sarsaparilla, 
Sanco, 
Sensitiva, 
Simaba cedron, 
Simaruba, 
Suelda con suelda. 

Tamarindo, 

Tapate, 

Tarsana. 



Tiguilote, 
Tuete. 

Una de gato. 

Valeriana, 

Vainilla, 

Velvet, 

Venado, 

Verbena, 

Vetiver, 

Viborana. 

Verba buena, 
Verba culebra, 
Verba mora. 
Verba te, 
Verba tora. 

Zacate de limon 

Zacate de olor, 

Zarza, 

Zarzon, 

Zenizero, 

Zarzaparilla, 

Zorrillo. 



Native Names of Costa Rican Tanning and Dyeing 
Plants. 





Commercia 




Name. 


Part. 


Use. 


Achiote 


Seed . . . 


Dyeing. 


Aguacate 


Seed . . . 


Tanning. 


Anil 


Extract . . 


Dyeing. 


Brazil 


Wood. . . 


" 


Catazin 


Wood. . . 


<< 


Encino bianco . . . 


Bark . . . 


Tanning. 


Encino Colorado . . 


Bark . . . . 


Gavilan 


Bark . . . . 


11 


Guanacaste .... 


Bark . . . . 


11 


Guanacaste .... 


Fruit . . . . 


Dyeing and tanning. 


Mangle 


Bark . . . . 


t* t< (( 


Mora 


Wood. . . . 


Dyeing. 


Nacascolo 

Nancite 


Fruit . . . . 
Bark . . . . 


Dyeing and tanning. 


Ojo de venado . . . 


Seed . . . . 


Dyeing. 


Ratoncillo .... 


Bark . . . . 


Tanning. 


Sacatinta 


Plant . . . . 


Dyeing. 


Sangre de drago . . 


Sap 




Yuquilla 


Root . . . . 





42 

Native Names cf Costa Rican Gums, Resins, Rubber, Etc. 



Acacia 

Arrayan 

Aroma 

Balsanio negro . . 

Barillo 

Copal, fossil amber 

Copal 

Camibar . . . 

Carana 

Copaiba . ... 

Cedro 

Cera vegetal '. . , 
Cerillo . . 
Chilamate .... 
Chirraca . . 
Espino bianco , . 
GuanacHSte . . . 
Guayacan . . . 



Character. 


Name. 






Character. 


Gum. 


Gallinazo , . . . . 


Gum. 


Wax. 


Guapinol 






Resin. 


Glim. 


Hule .... 






Rubber. 


Balsam. 


Incienso 








Resin. 


Resin. 


Jinote . 
Jocote 
Jobo . . 








Gum-resin. 
Gum. 


Balsam. 


Jenizaro 








Gum-resin. 


Kesin. 


Mangle . 








Gum. 


Balsam. 


Mastate 








Milk. 


Gum. 


Nispero 








Chewing gum. 


Wax. 


Ojoche Colorado 
Ojoche macho . 




Milk. 


Milk. 


Pochote .... 




Gum. 


Balsam. 


Ouiebracha . . 






Gum. 


Sangre de drago 




Sap. 




Tuno macho . . 




Chewing gum. 


Resin. 


Palo de vaca 






Milk. 



Native Names of Costa Rican Oilseeds. 
Almendro, Coco, Corozo, 

Algodon, Colza, Cacahuete, 

Ajonjoli, Coyol, Higuerilla, 

Biscoyol, Coquito, lyino. 



Native Names of Costa Rican Textile Plants. 



Name. 


Product. 


Name. 


Product. 


Algodon 


Cotton. 


Limon montes . . . 


Ba.st 


Balsa 


Silk-cotton. 


Luffa 


Fruit. 


Banana 


Leaves. 


Majagua 


Bast. 


Barrigona 


Silk-cotton and 
bast. 


Maguey 


Leaves. 


Burio 


East. 


Mastate 


Bast. 


Cabuya 


Leaves 


Palma 


Leaves. 


Ceiba 


Silk-cotton. 


Peine de niico . . . 


Bast. 


Corteza blanca ..... 


Bast. 


Pie de vc nado . . . 


Bast. 


Coco 


Fruit fibre. 


Pina 


Leaves. 


Cucanilla 


Bast. 


Pifiuela 


Leaves. 


Guarunio 


Bast. 


Pochote 


Bast and silk- 
cotton. 


Itavo 


Leaves. 


Pita 


Leaves. 


Juco 


Bast. 
Leaves. 


Ramio 

Soncollo 


Bast. 


Junco 


Bast. 



IV. 



FAUNA. 



In regard to the fauna, there are in Costa Rica about one 
hundred and twenty-one species of mammalia, of which tep 
are domesticated and four of Mtis introduced, leaving 107 as 
indigenous to Costa Rica. 

There are only a few species peculiar to Costa Rica, and 
also but a small number peculiar to Central America, among- 
which are the Tapinis dozui alston and three species of 
monkeys. About one-fifth of the total number also belong to 
South America and one-seventh to North America. The rest 
are found as well in North as in South America. With re- 
spect to the avifauna, there are 725 known species. This 
great variety of the avifauna is due to especial climatic con- 
ditions, to the very rich flora, to the geographical position be- 
tween two oceans and to the vicinity of so many islands of 
the Caribbean Sea. 

It is composed of 67 Neoarctic species, which are also 
found in the north of Mexico; of 247 Neotropical or South 
American species, of 260 autocthonous or exclusively Central 
American species, and 128 newly described species which live 
as well in the northern as in the southern continent. The rest, 
comprising 23 species, have a doubtful O'rigin. The best sing- 
ing birds are the Gilguero, Yigiierro, Toledo, Mozotillo, 
Cacique, Mongita, Comemaiz, Setillero and x'Vguillo. 

There are over 130 species of Reptilia and Batrachia in 
Costa Rica. Those known and described are 36 Batrachia, 
28 Lacertilia, 60 Ophidia and 6 Testudinata. Poisonous 
snakes are the Toboba, Bocaraca, Oropel, Terciopelo and 
Cascabel. 

(43) 



44 

Costa Rica is also very rich in Fishes. Those in the 
Pacific are almost entirely different from those of the Atlantic 
Oceain. Also its tributary waters have 'more varied species 
than tho'se of the Atlantic slope. 

In correspondence with the varied topographical, climat- 
ologi'cal, and hotanical conditions of Costa Rica is also the 
invertebrate fauna. And Here the National Museum, under 
Mr. Anastasio Alfaro, and the "Instituto fisico geografico 
N'acional," under Professor H. Pittier, are doing equally ex- 
cellent work in bringing them to our knowledge, as they have 
done like service in other branches of Natural History. 

The most interesting spe'cies of the fauna in Costa Rica 
among the mammalia are the monkeys (Mycetcs palliatus, 
Ateles geoffroyi, and Cehus hypoleucus), the tigre (Fells 
onca), marrigordo (Felis pardalis), puma (Felis concolor), 
the coyote (Canis latrans), tigrillo (Urocyon cinereo), pisote 
(Nasua narica), martilla (Cercoleptes caudivolvulus), coma- 
dreja (Mtistela brasiliensis) , chulomuco or tolumuco (Galictis 
barhara), Zorro iiediondo (Conepatus mapurito), nutria or 
perro de agua (Lutra felina), manati or vaca marina (TricJic- 
ehus australis), danta (Elasmognathus bairdii and E. Dowi), 
saiimo (Dicotyles tajacu) cari bianco (Dicotylcs labiatiis), 
venado (Dorcelophus clavatus), calbro de monte (Masama 
icmama), ardillas (Sciurus hypopyrrhus, Sc. (estuans hoif- 
manni, Sc. Alfari), puerco espino (Synetheres mcxicamis), 
guatusa (Dasyprocta isthmica, D. punctata), tepeizcuintle 
(Coelogenys paca), conejo (Lepus graysoni, L. gabbi), perico 
ligero (Bradypus castaneiceps), perezoso (Choloepus hoff- 
manni), armado de zopilote (Dasypus gymnurus), arma- 
dillo (Tatusia novemcincta) , oso hormiguero (Myrmecophaga 
jubata), oso colmeno or tejon (Myrmecophaga tctradactyla) , 
serafin de platanar (Cyclothorus didactyhis), zorro pelon 
(Didelphis marsupialis aurita), zorro isi (Marnwsa cincrca) 
and zorrito de platanar (Marmosa murina). 

Among the birds the following may be mentioned, fol- 
lowing the enumeration of Jose C. Zeledon: The sensontle 
(Mimus gilous), the jilguero (Mclanops), the yigiierro (Tur- 
dus grayi), the picudos (Ccsreba cyanea and C. lucida), the 
rualdo (Chlorophonia callophrys), the caciquita (Euphonia 



45 

clegantissima), the monjita fina (Euphonia affinis), and other 
species of Euphonia; further pipra mentahs, la viuda (Tan- 
agra cana), el cardenal (Pyranga leucoptera and P. rubra), 
cyanospiza, sps., alcalde mayor (Rhamphoca^hts) the oropen- 
dula (Ocyalus waglieri and 0. montezumce), the choltote or 
trupial (Icterus pectoralis and /. giraudi), the rajon (Cotinga- 
ainabilis), colibris or gorriones (Trochilidce), the quetzal 
(Pharomacrus costariccnsis), resplandor (Muscivora mexi- 
cana), the curre {Ramphastus carinatus), the quioro (R. 
tocard), the curre verde (Aulacorhamphus ccEndeigidaris), 
carpintero (Campephilus guatemalensis and Centurus hoff- 
manni), the lapas rojas and lapas verdes (Ara militaris and 
Chryosotis diademata, C. giiatemalcs and C. auripalliata) , the- 
periquitos (Conurus petsii and Brotogerys tovi) . 

Further mention is made of the aguila (Trascetus harp- 
yia), carnal eon (Falco sparverius), carg^a-hueso (Polyborus 
cherhuay), the rey de z'opilote (Gy'parchus papa), the zopilote- 
(Catharista atrata) and the zonchiche (Cathartes aiira). To 
these may be added the tortolita (Columhigallina passerina), 
the pa von (Crax glohicera), the pava (Penelope cristata), pava 
negra (Chamcepetes unicolor), the oo-dorniz (Ortyx kylaudi) 
and chirraxua (Denitortyx Icucophrys) ; still further, the mar- 
tin peha (Ardca virescens) and other garza (Tigrisoma 
cabanisi, Nycticorax americanus, Gallina aquatica, Eurypyga 
major), zarzetas (Numenius and Totanus) ; also the pijijes 
(Totanus Havipcs and Charadrius vociferns), the patillo (Co- 
lymbiis dominicus),' the piche (Dendrocigna autumnalis), peli- 
canos and alcatraz (Pelecanus), etc. 

We have further to mention the great turtles from both 
oceans, the (Nacar de perlas) or pearl s'hells from Golfos. 
Dulce and Nicoya, the oysters from Puntarenas, the purple- 
snail (Murex), also sponges, corals, etc 



V. 



THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 



Colonel George Earl Church says in regard to the In- 
dians: "There are many indications that Costa Rica was once 
the debatable ground between the powerful Mexican invad'^r 
and the warlike Caribs of northern South America." 

"The Caribs were a tall, muscular, copper colored race 
who, when the New World was discovered, occupied the 
coast from the mouth of the River Orinoco to that of the 
River Amazon, and stretched inland over all the half-drowned 
districts and far up the valley of the Orinoco. Their nomadic 
spirit led them to the conquest of many of the Windward 
Islands, and, I am disposed to believe, urged them to invade 
all the coimtries bordering the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of 
Mexico having estuaries and rivers which oould be pene- 
trated by their war canoes. These carried from twenty-five 
to one hundred men each and were of sufficient size to ni'ake 
long voyages." 

Along all the Caribbean coast districts of Yucatan, Hon- 
duras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Chiriqui, and throughout 
the province of Panama, the Carib has left traces of his pres- 
ence. 

It is evident that an ofifshoot of the highland Mexican 
race pressed south and east from Chiapas, Mexico, into and 
through the long strip of the Pacific coast occupied by the 
Chorotegas or Mangues, followed the Pacifiic slope of the 
Cordilleras and the narrow space between Lake Nicaragua 
and the O'cean, penetrated into northwestern Costa Rica, 
settled and helped the Mangues to develop a considerable 
-civilization in the district of Guanacaste and Nicoya, and in 

(46) 



47 

part subdued all the volcanic region lying north and west of 
the valley of the River Reventazon. 

It is notable that inhabitants of volcanic countries crowd 
around the slopes of its volcanoes, due probably to the fertil- 
izing cjuality of the ejected ash. 

The Mexicans have left abundant traces of their lan- 
guage in Costa Rica, especially throughout its northern half. 
Many of their words are now in common use and incor- 
porated into the Spanish spoken there. Xotably such words 
occur in the names of plants, animals and geographical local- 
ities. 

In 1569 the Adelantado Perafan de Rivera made an 
elaborate detailed enumeration of the Indians and found their 
total number to be 25,000. 

Mr. M. de Peralta says the Nahuas (Aztecs) and 
Mangues (Choro'teg-as), Giietares, Viceitas, Terrabas, Chan- 
guenes, Guaymies, Quepos, Cotos and Borucas were the prin- 
cipal people who occupied the territory of Costa Rica at the 
time of the conquest. The Nahuas came from the north, and 
if the Mangues did not go from Chiapas, it is necessary to 
infer that from the Gulf ol Nicoya and the shores of the lakes 
of Nicaragua and Managua they extended to the south of 
Mexico, where, up to a few years ago, their language was 
spoken at Acala. 

The Mangues, or Chorotegas, at the time of the Mexican 
invasion, occupied the peninsula of Nicoya and all the lands 
surrounding the gulf of that name. They were then, no 
doubt, the most powerful and advanced people in Costa Rica, 
and carried some of their arts, such as pottery, sculpture, 
weaving, and tilling the ground, to greater perfection than any 
people occupying the region between their territory and that 
of the Chiboas on the table-land of Colombia. In their graves 
are found gold ornaments and specimens of the ceramic art 
showing taste in design superior to any that the present civ- 
ilized Costa Rican Indian can manufacture. These graves 
also contain beautiful specimens of obsidian, gre'ensto'ne and 
even finely wrought jade tools and jade ornaments, knives, 
axes, arrowheads, amulets, rings and a multitude of stone 
idols, seats, etc. The Mangues appear to have manufactured 
gold extensively into jewelry. 



48 

The Giietares made their homes on the slopes of the 
Turialba, Irazii and Barba to the southeast of the Mexicans 
and Chorotegas, and, in a less degree, they shared in the skill 
and advancement of the latter, but their pottery was inferior 
m artistic method and quality of material and workmanship, 
judging from collections in the National Museum of Costa 
Rica. 

Peralta says, "The Nahuas and Mangues of the regions 
of Nicoya have completely disappeared, although the first still 
survive in Mexico, and the latter are represented here and 
there bv a descendant in Masava (Nicarag-ua) and in Acala 
(Chiapas)." The Nahuas (Aztecs) left notable monuments of 
their material civilization and of their scientifi'C attainments, 
and a language that served as the instrument of a cultivated 
and thoughtful race. 

During the colonial period the Spaniards, in several ef- 
forts to explore the River Frio, were driven back by the 
Guatuso Indians, who still occupy the greater part of its valley 
and the slopes of the volcanic mountains. It was not until 
1856 that a small expedition penetrated across the country 
to the Rio Frio from the mouth of the River Arenal, a brancJi 
of the San Carlos. They reported fertile, hilly slopes in its 
upper reaches, and beautiful plains for most of the dis- 
tance traversed to its mouth. 

The rubber collectors of Nicaragua for many years have 
ascended the Rio Frio and otJier rivers in canoes and plun- 
dered the settlements, plantaitions and property of the Indians,- 
forcing them to retire further up the river. The Guatusos 
live in palenqiies (stockades), and their houses are similar to- 
the maloccas among Amazon tribes. Each palenque shelters- 
several families, who cook their food at separate fires built on 
the ground. They live principally on plantains, yucca, maize,, 
sugar cane, cacao, game and fish, the latter being abundant 
in the Rio Frio. They also cultivate and smoke tobacco. 

Their weapons are bows, arrows, stone axes, and 
wooden knives. They drink chicha, made by fermenting- 
roasted green plantains, and also chicha mascada de mats. As- 
the bishop of Costa Rica, Dr. Bernardo A. Thiel, a very 
noted ethnologist and archgeologist, says: 



49 

"The Guatuso 'country is probably one of the most de- 
lightful portions of Oosta Rica. Every tropical product can 
be grown there in abundance, for the lands are immeasurably 
rich and the climate one of the best in the tropical belt." 

The last census of the Guatuso Indians is as follows: 



Palenques. 

On ike river fojifo: 

Tojifo 

Margarita 

Pedro Joaquin 

Sahara 

Culolo 

Napoleon 

On the river Cucuracha 
Juana 

On the river La Muerte: 

Congo 

I,a Muerte 

On the river Pataste: 

San Juan 

Grecia 

Total 



Men. 


Women. 


Children. 


• Total. 


Craves. 


36 


12 


."9 


47 


25 


24 


13 


17 


54 


60 


15 


II 


13 


39 


loi 


8 


5 


7 


20 


18 


9 


8 


4 


21 


23 




5 


3 


16 


36 


8 


? 


4 


17 


26 


10 


3 


3 


16 


9 


8 


3 


1 


12 




5 


I 


I 


8 




11 


4 


2 


17 


— 


132 


70 


64 


266 


298 



Of the Talamanca Indians, Professor H. Pittier distin- 
guishes two tribes, the Brilio and Cabecar. The first live in 
the valleys and mountains of Uren and Arari and along the 
lower course of the Coen River, while the Cabecars dwell in 
the upper parts of the Coen. Other Indians, probably of the 
Tiribi tribe, live in the upper part of the Teliri valley. 

The Talamanca Indians have a higher grade of civiliza- 
tion than the neighboring Boruca or Brunca and Terraba In- 
dians. 

The Bribris bave good traditions and numerous legends 
of their past. 

The census o'f the Talamanca Indians is as follows: 





Male. 


Female. 


Total. 


Married. 


I,ari 


263 

172 

67 

424 


269 

176 

71 

393 


532 
348 
138 
817 




Coen 


r,-^ 


Teliri 


— 


Ur^n 


2 




44 


Total 


926 


9C9 


1835 















50 

The Terrabas and Bruiicas or Boruca*indians are located 
on the Pacific slope of the Talamanca mountains, and 
especially in the great valley of the Diquis or Rio Grande do 
Terraba, although there are also a few Indian palenques in 
the neighborhood of the Chirripo. The Borucas or Bruncas 
are dolichocephalic. The men are large, the wo^men short and 
plump. They are more intelligent and active than the Tishbi of 
Terraba. Professor Pittier counted in the Boruca valley and 
at Palma, Punta Mala and La Uvita 65 to 75 ranchos scat- 
tered around, with about 389 inhabitants, while he found 50 
to 60 ranchos with about 250 inhabitants in the town of Ter- 
raba and 25 to 30 ranchos with about 300 inhabitants in the 
town of Buenos Aires. There are also some Indians near the 
Golfo Dulce. 

Taken in all, about 4000 uncivilized Indians are estimated 
to remain in Costa Rica. 



VI. 



POPULATION. 



The population of Costa Rica is nearly all white and 
mostly descendants of Spaniards from Galicia. The Indians 
are not numerous and are completely distinct from the civ- 
ilized race. The Negroes and mixed breeds live almost ex- 
clusively on the coastlands. 

The Costa Ricans are a well formed, robust and healthy 
people with regular features. The women are gracious, have 
splendid eyes and abundance of hair, and appear affable in 
manner. The men are intelligent, industrious, economical, 
honest and peaceable, as well as polite, truthful and generous. 
They respect order and property, love to work, and are proud 
of their wealth and of the independence of their nation. 

Every Costa Rican owns property of some kind. The 
better class of women follow in their dress the fashions of 
Europe; the lower classes have gowns of muslin or calico, 
and wear petticoats, rebozos and very often panama hats. 
Some adorn themselves with earrings and other jewelry and 
some wear shoes. 

The men dress in European style. The lower class, 
consisting of hard-working farmers, owners of small cofifee- 
plantations and ox-carts and oxen for internal traffic, wear 
coarse cloth coats, drill or cotton trousers, and straw or felt 
hats. Most of these people go barefooted. 

The houses of the wealthy have all modern conveniences. 
Those of the poorer classes are nearly comfortless. They are 
mostly low and built of adobes, with a roof of tiles, and are 
arranged in regular streets crossing each other at right angles. 
The public buildings are spacious and ornamental. 

(51) 



52 

Among the principal buildings in San Jose are the New 
National Theatre, in which about 1,000,000 pesos were 
invested; the National Palace; the Palace of Justice; the 
Executive Mansion; the Episcopal Palace; the National Dis- 
tillery; the Market; the University; the High School for 
Young Ladies; the High School for Young Men; the Cus- 
tom House; the Mint, etc. 

The city possesses charitable institutions, such as hos- 
pitals, orphan asylums, insane asylums, etc., all under the 
management of corporations and associations constantly 
laboring for their improvement. The cemeteries are under 
the supervision of charitable associations. There are several 
parks, a Museum, a Public Library and scientific, legal, 
medical, literary and musical societies, an International Club 
and a German Club, etc. 

The streets are mostly macadamized or paved with stones 
and lighted by electricity. Nearly every city is well-supplied 
with water conducted through pipes. 

The food of the poor comprises meat, beans, corn, rice, 
tortillas and plantains. 

Saturday is the especial market day of the cities, and 
from sunrise till noon the miarket-places are crowded with 
sellers and buyers Here can be found all kind of vegetables 
amd fruits, potato'es, corn, beans, cofifee, tobacco, sugar, 
cheese, meat and other food, besides earthenware, hammocks, 
hats, rebozos, charcoal, etc. 

The population of Costa Rica in 1897 was calculated to 
be 288,769, as follows: 



90,940 inhabitants in the Province of San Jos^. 

67,972 " " " Alajuela. 

45,161 " " " Cartago. 

37,603 " " " Heredia. 

23,769 " " " Guanacaste. 

8,925 " " Comarca de Limon. 

14,399 " " " Puntarenas. 

The last census, that of 1892, gave 243,205 as the entire 
population of the Republic. 



53 

The following table shows the population of the different 
'cantones" in 1892 and 1897: 



Province of San Jose. 



Province of Heredia. 



Canton. 


1892. 


1897. 


San Jos4 

Escazfi 

Desamparados .... 

Puriscal 

Aserri 

Mora 

Tamazu 

Goicoechea 


39,112 
6,522 
6,471 
6,845 
6,030 
5,814 
2.583 
3,341: 


. 46,410 

7,616 
8,092 
7,140 
6,902 
3,070 
3,975 


Total 


76,718 


90,940 



Province of Alajuela. 



Canton. 


1892. 


1897. 


Alajuela 

San Ramon 

Grecia 

Atenas 

San Mateo 

Naranjo 

Palmares 


19,300 
9,928 
8,797 
6,208 
3.353 
6.847 
2,770 


22,967 
11,781 
10,472 
7,373 
3,986 
8,092 
3,296 


Total 


57,203 


67,967 



Province of Cartago. 



Canton. 


1892. 


1897. 


Cartago 

Paraiso 

I<a Union 


25,898 
7,819 
4,256 


30,821 
9,282 ■ 
5,058 


Total 


37,973 


45,161 



Canton. 


1892. 


1897. 


Heredia 

Barba 




16,480 
2,964 
5,"8 
2,845 
4,204 


19,635 
3,522 


Santo Domingo 
Santa Barbara . . 




6,069 

3.379 
4,998 






Total 


31,611 


37,603 



Province of Gaanacaste. 



I,iberia . . 
Caiias . . 
Bagaces. . 
Santa Cruz 
Nicoya , . 

Total . . 




1897. 



7,021 
2,570 
1,749 
7,021 
5.438 



23,799 



Comarca de Limon 




Canton. 


1892. 


1897. 


Limon 


7,484 


8,925 



Gomarca de Pantarenas. 



Canton. 


1892. 


1897. 


Puntarenas 

Bsparta 


8,869 
3,298 


10,472 
3,927 


Total 


12,167 


14,399 



The following table shows the constant natural increase 
of the population, beginning with the year of 1868: 



1868 13', 510 

1869 134,416 

1870 137,387 

1 871 140,423 

1872 143,525 

73 146,696 

74 • • 149,937 

1 875 153.250 

76 156,636 

77 i6o,c97 



878 163,633 

879 167,248 

880 170,943 

88r 174,720 

882 178,581 

883 182,528 

884 188,895 

885 195,483 

886 202,297 

887 209,357 



8 216,65 

9 224,25 

o 232,034 

1 240,126 

2 248,500 

3 257,155 

4 266,122 

895 275,400 

285,003 

897 288,799 



54 

The population of Costa Rica prior to 1868 was as fol- 
lows : 



1864 120,499 

1844 79.982 

1835 74,565 

1826 61,846 

1778 ■ . . . . 24,536 



Costa Rica being a country of immense resources, with 
great opportunities for success in industrial, agricultural and 
oommerciai enterprises, it may be interesting to know its 
smaller subdivisions, called barrios or districts, as presented 
in the following table, taken from the latest census, that of 
1892: 

Province of San Jose. 

Canton de San Jose. 



Barrios, etc. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


Ciudad f Distrito del Carmen . . . 
or J "La Merced . . . 

Capital de " Catedral 

San Jos6. 1, " Hospital 

Barrio de San Pedro 


1,941 1 

2,853] 
1,273 

1,061 
957 
485 
974 
797 

1,428 
286 
675 
187 
456 
194 
361 
470 


2,243] 

2:^^r^->°^^ 
3,179 J 
1,418 
1,236 
973 
509 

867 
1,416 
276 
737 
169 
486 
180 
434 
484 


19,326 
2,691 


" de San Juan 


2,297 
1,930 


" de Zapote 

" de San Isidro 

" de San Vicente 

" de Alajuelita 

" de San Francisco 


994 
1,971 
1,664 
2,844 

562 


'* de Uurca 

" de San Jeronimo 

" de Mata Redonda 


1,412 
356 

942 


" de Hortillo 


374 


" de San Sebastian 

" de Las Pavas 


795 
954 






Total 


18,869 


20,243 


39,112 



Canton de Escazii. 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa de Kscasu (Centro) 
Barrio de San Antonio . 

" de San Rafael . 

" de Santa Ana . . 

" de Salitral . . . 

Total 



Males. 



440 
741 
835 
761 
475 



Females. 



521 

757 
870 
699 
423 



3,270 



Total. 



961 
1,498 
1,705 
1,460 



6.522 



55 
Canton de Desamparados. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 



Villa de Desamparados (Ceiitro) 
Barrio de San Juan de Dios . . 

" de San Miguel 

" de San Cristobal .... 

" de San Rafael 

' ' de Rosario 

" de Patarra 

" de Los Frailes . ... 

" de San Antonio 



556 
486 

479 
191 

3X4 
226 
225 
186 
385 



651 
512 
515 
238 
39' 

2C5 

209 
215 
417 



1,207 
99S 
994 
429 
775 
431 
434 
401 
802 



Total 



3.118 



Canton de Coicoechea. 



6,471 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa de Guadalupe (Centro) 

Barrio de San Francisco 

" de Ipsis y Purral 

" de Blancos y San Gabriel . . 

" del Charco y Ranclio Redondo 

" de Mata de Platano 

Total . . . . ; 



Canton de Puriscal. 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa del Puriscal (Centro) . 
Barrio de San Rafael . . . 

" de San Pablo . . . . 

" de Barbacoas . .• • • 

" de Desaniparaditos 

" de San Antonio . . 

" de San Juan . . . . 

" de Grifo Alto . . . . 

" de Grifo Bajo . . . . 

" de Mercedes . . . . 

" de Candelarita . . , 



Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


667 


702 


1.369 


161 


182 


343 


260 


298 


53^ 


277 


303 


580 


146 


117 


263 


103 


125 


228 


1,614 
rnl 


1,727 


_3'34i 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


597 


604 


1,201 


398 


373 


771 


371 


319 


6go 


245 


224 


469 


234 


257- 


491 


299 


299 


598 


234 


211 


445 


216 


212 


428 


176 


183 


359 


358 


316 


674 


366 


353 


719 


i 3.494 


3.351 


1 6,845 


'H. 







Total 



Canton de Aserri. 



Barrios, etc. 



Females. 



Villa de Aserri (Centro) . 
Barrio de Monte Redondo 

" de Pirris 

" de San Ignacio . . 

" de La Legua . , . 

" de Sabanillas . . . 

" de Cangrejal . . 

' ' de Tarbaca .... 

" de Cacao 

" de La Ceiba . . . 

" de Ococa 

" de Poas 

" de Guaitil .... 

" de Palmichal . . . 



Total 



Total. 



587 


652 


1,239 


265 


258 


523 


49 


52 


101 


428 


399 


827 


189 


132 


321 


320 


270 


590 


176 


170 


346 


195 


171 


366 


198 


199 


397 


97 


78 


175 


105 


90 


195 


124 


125 


249 


251 


223 


474 


114 


113 


227 


3.098 


2.932 


6,030 



50 
Carlton de Mora. 



Barrios, etc. 




Villa de Pacaca (Centro) . . 
Barrio de I,os Altos y Tienfres 

" de Jateo 

" de Brasil 

" de Guajabo y Jaris . . 

" de Rodeo 

" de Morado 

" de Tabarcia 

" de Picagres 

" de Piedra Blanca . . . 

" de Piedras Negras . . 

Total 



Canton de Tarrazii. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 



Females. 



Total. 



Villa de San Marcos (Centro) 
Barrio de San Pablo 

" de San Andrfe . . . . 

" del General 

" de Santa Maria . . . . 

Total 



437 
241 
III 
149 
432 



378 
230 
93 
135 
377 



815 
471 
204 
284 
8c9 



1.370 



2,583 



Province of Alajuela. 
Canton de Alajuela. 



Barrios, etc. 



Total. 



Ciudad de Alajuela (Centro) 
Barrio de San Pedro .... 

" de San Rafael. . . . 

" de San Jose 

" de Santiago Este . . 

" " " Oeste . 

" de Concepcion . . . 

" de Sabanilla .... 

" de San Antonio . . . 

" de Turrlicares . . . 

" de Desamparados . 

" de Tuetal 

" de Garita 

" de San Isidro .... 

" de Itiquis 

" de Sarapiqui . . . . 

" de Carrillos 

Total 



1,750 
797 
632 

741 
528 
4S!3 
755 
734 
681 
420 

436 
249 
249 
330 
279 
106 
196 



9.366 



2,078 
794 
733 
798 
538 
507 
784 
722 
720 
388 
455 
261 

254 
333 
290 
61 
218. 



9.934 



3,828 
1.591 
1,365 
1,539 
1,066 
990 
1-539' 
1,456 
1. 401 



510 
503 
663 

569 
167 

414 



Canton de Palmares. 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa de Palmares (Centro) 

Barrio de Ksquipulas . . . 

" de Buenos Aires . . 

" de Zaragoza . . . , 

" de La Granja . . . , 

Total 



Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


324 
280 
271 
289 
190 


417 
266 
294 


741 
546 
565 
562 
356 


1,354 


1,416 


2,770 



57 
Canton de San Ramon. 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa de San Ramon (Centro) 
Barrio de Santiago Norte . . 

" " " Sur . . . 

" de Concepcion . . . . 

" de Piedades Norte . . 

" " " Sur . . . 

*' de San Juan 

" de San Isidro 

" de San Rafael 

" de Los Angeles . . . . 

Total 



Females. 



912 


1,077 


1,989 


261 


249 


510 


621 


615 


1,236 


281 


268 


549 


502 


486 


988 


544 


536 


r,o8o 


729 


733 


1,462 


346 


361 


707 


595 


622 


1,217 


112 


78 


190 



Total. 



9,928 



Canton de Grecia. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 



Females. 



Total. 



Villa de Grecia (Centro) 

Barrio de San Isidro 

" de Sarchi Norte 

" de Sarchi Sur 

'• de Sirri 

" de Puente Piedra 

" de San Jeronimo 

" de San Roque 

" de San Pedro de la Union 

" de San Jos4 

" de Tacares 

" de Los Angeles 

" de San Juan 

" de Guatuso ........ 

Total 



663 
388 
523. 
291 
383 
293 
279 
297 
190 
393 
265 
215 
196 
77 



716 


1.379 


405 


793 


509 


1,032 


267 


558 


372 


755 


334 


627 


252 


531 


299 


59fi 


191 


381 


366 


759 


239 


504 


198 


413 


186 


382 


10 


87 



4,453 



8,797 



Canton de Atenas. 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa de Atenas (Centro) 
Barrio de Jesus 

" de Mercedes . . . 

" de Santiago . . . . 

" de Concepcion . . 

" de San Isidro . . . 

" de Candelaria . . 

" de San Jos6 . . . . 

" de Los Angeles . . 

" de Santa E^ulalia . 



Males. 



581 
432 
254 
364 
255 
196 
265 
177 



Females. 



423 
544 
446 
268 

365 
232 
209 
248 
190 
183 



Total. 



811 
1,125 
878 
522 
729 
487 
405 
513 
367 
371 



Total 



Canton de San Mateo. 



3,ic8 



Barrios, etc. 



Villa San Mateo (Centro) 
Bairio de Santo Domingo 

" de Desmonte . . . 

" de Ramadas . . . 

" de Mastate .... 

" de Jesus Maria . . 

" de Maderal .... 



Total . 



340 
384 
244 
198 
293 
146 
141 

1,746 



Females. 



361 
357 
217 
186 
226 
125 
135 

1,607 



Total. 



701 

741 
461 

384 
519 
271 
276 

3,353 



58 
Canton de Naranjo. 

Barrios, etc. Males. 



Villa del Naranjo (Centro) . . . 
Barrio de San Juanillo 

" de Zarcero 

" de San Miguel 

' ' de Candelaria 

' ' de Buena Vista y Tapesco 

" de Barranca 

" de Concepcion 

" de San Carlos 

"" de Laguna 



777 
444 
374 
392 
281 
291 
280 

'59 
189 
161 



546 
334 
413 
283 
267 
219 
246 
112 
149 



1,607 
990 
708 
805 
564 
558 
499 
505 
301 
310 



Total 



3.399 



Province of Cartago. 

Canton de Cartago. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 



6,847 



Ciudad de Cartago (Centro) . . . . 
Barrio de San Nicolas 

" de Los Angeles 

" de San Francisco 

" de Carmen 

" de San Rafael 

' ' de La Concepcion 

" de Guadalupe 

" de Pascon y Pacayas . . . . 

" de Santa Cruz 5' Capelladas 

' ' de Corralillo 

" de San Juan de Tobosi . . . 

" de Ouebradilla y Bermejo . 

" de Tabl6n 

Pueblo de Cot 

' ' de Tobosi 

Aldea de Cervantes 

Total 



638 

,357 
,192 

,134 



891 
961 
786 
667 
350 
270 
201 
170 
399 
395 
397 



1,853 

1,407 

1,338 

1,203 

i,c66 

995 

920 

1,075 

, 714 

550 

312 

27S 

194 

171 

418 

360 

356 



13,210 



3,491 
2,764 

2,530 
2,337 
2.054 
1,887 
1,811 
2,036 

I,S00 

1. 217 

662 
548 

395 
341 
817 
755 
753 



25,898 



Canton de Paraiso. 






Barrios, etc. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


Villa del Paraiso (Centro) 


932 
1,293 
366 
590 
347 

278 
227 


967 
870 
331 
596 
292 
122 
238 
212 


1,899 


Barrio de Juan Vinas y Turialba 

" de La Flor 


2,163 
697 




1,186 




639 


" de Chirripo 


280 
516 




43q 






Total 1 4,191 


3,628 


7.819 



Canton de la Union. 






.Barrios, etc. 


Males. 


F'emales. 


Total. 




530 
394 
333 
293 
185 
243 
167 


547 
408 
328 
259 
182 
238 
149 


1,077 


Barrio de San Diego 

" de San Rafael 


802 
661 
552 




367 




48 1 




316 






Total 


2,145 


2,111 


4,2.S6 



59 

Province of Heredia. 

Canton de Heredia. 



Barrios, etc. 



Ciudad de Heredia (Centre) 
Barrio de San Pablo .... 

" de San Joaquin . . . 

" de San Isidro . . . 

" de Mercedes .... 

" de San Antonio . . . 

" de El Barreal .... 

" de Sarapiqui .... 

" de La Rivera .... 

" de San Franci.sco . . 



Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


2.873 


3.174 


6,047 


8gi 


904 


1.795 


815 


826 


1,641 


970 


1,003 


1,973 


547 


588 


1,135 


559 


648 


1,207 


356 


347 


703 


307 


164 


471 


292 


330 


622 


430 


456 


886 



Total 



8,040 



8,440 



Canton de Santo Domingo. 



Barrios, etc 



Villa de Santo Domingo (Centre 
Barrio de San Miguel .... 

" de Santo Tonias 

" de Santa Rosa 

" de San Vicente 

" de Paraisito 



16,480 





Canton de Barba. 






Barrios, etc. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


Villa de Barba (Centre) 


419 
490 
251 

122 
161 


493 
496 
262 
130 
140 


gl2 




986 


" de San Pablo . . . 


5I1 


" de Santa I,ucia 


2S2 




301 






Total 


1443 


1,521 


2,964 





Canton de Santa Ba 


rbara. 






Barrios 


etc. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


Villa de Santa Barbara (Centre"! 


326 
290 
294 
167 
315 


362 
278 
302 
136 
375 


688 






S68 




=96 


" de Santo Domingo 




iC3 


_ _ - 


690 






Total 




1,392 


_ J[,453_ 


2,84^ 




Total 



Canton de San Rafael. 



Barrios, etc. 


Males. 


1 
Females. 1 Total. 

t 


Villa de San Rafael (Centre) 


808 
481 
277 
341 
172 


804 1,612 


Barrio de San Jos6 

" de Los Angeles 

" de Santiago 


494 I 975 
257 t 534 
383 724 
1S7 ! ;S9 






Total 


2,079 1 2,125 4,204 



6o 



Province of Guanacaste. 

Canton de Liberia. 



Barrios, etc. 


Ma es. 


Females. 


Total. 




1,095 
567 
388 
463 
296 
254 


i,J3i 
540 
390 
335 
257 
167 


2,226 




1,107 


" de Filadelfia 


778 




798 


' ' de Palmira 


553 
421 






Total 


3.063 


2,820 


5.883 



Canton de Canas. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 




Villa de Canas (Centre) 
Barrio de Colorado . . . 

" de Sandillal . . . 

" de Hotel .... 

" de Santa Rosa . 

" de Buenaventura 

" de Bebedero . . 

" de Javia 



179 
434 
147 
124 

91 

94 
102 
46 



Total 



1,217 



Canton de Ba^aces. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 



Villa de Bagaces (Centro) 
Barrio de Bebedero . . . 

" de Agua Caliente 

" de Tamarindo . . 

" de Monte Negro . 

" de Montana .... 

" de Pijij6 

" de Rio Blanco . . . 

" de Salitial 

" de Joreo 

"' de Cofradia .... 



Total 



112 

52 
85 
51 



Females. 



239 

77 
48 
37 
56 
59 
54 



Total. 



419 
189 
100 
122 
107 
127 
122 
III 
57 
44 



1,476 



Canton de Santa Cruz. 



Baririos, etc. 



Villa de Santa Cruz (Centro) 
Barrio de Belen 

' ' de Veintisiete de Abril 

" de Santa Rosa .... 

'' de Limon 

" de Terapate y Arenal 

" de Lagunilla 

" de San Juan 

" de Porte Golpe .... 

" de Arado 

' ' de Santa Barbara . . . 

" de Bols6n 

Total 



Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


346 


386 


732 


368 


399 


767 


352 


382 


734 


296 


300 


596 


220 


223 


443 


297 


294 


591 


160 


174 


334 


150 


139 


289 


151 


162 


3'3 


144 


137 


281 


244 


263 


507 


175 


186 


361 


2,903 


3,045 


5.948 



6i 

Canton de Nicoya. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. 



Villa de Nicoya (Centro) 
Barrio de CorraliUo . . 

" de Matina .... 

" de San Antonio . 

" de Santa Rita . . 

" de Matambii . . 

" de Dulce Nombre 

" de Sabana grande 

" de Hunio 

" de Santa Ana . . 

" de San Joaquin . , 

" de San Lazaro . . 

" de San Pablo . . 

" de San Vicente . 

" de Zapote 

" de Pueblo Viejo . 

Total 



376 
222 
181 
i6i 
167 
158 
127 
176 
118 
87 
85 
60 
38 
71 
126 



Females. 



42S 
186 
175 
167 
130 
153 
134 
172 
121 
102 

93 
62 

51 
70 



Total. 



804 
408 
356 
328 
297 
3" 
261 
348 
239 
189 
1 78 



141 
264 
242 



2,285 



Comarca de Puntarenas. 
Canton de Puntarenas. 



Barrios, etc. 



Ciudad de Puntarenas (Centro) 
Barrio de los Quemados .... 

" de Pitahaya 

" de Lagartos 

" de Abangares 

" de Rio Grande 

" de Paquera 

" de Chomes 

" de Ciruelitas 

" de Puerto Alto 

" de Cabo Blanco 

" de Corosal 

" de Barranca 

" de Jicaral 

" de Chacarita 

" de I^epanto 

" de Chira 

" de San Miguel 

" de Jigante 

" de Morales 

" de Tambar 

" de Las Agujas 

" de Curti 

" de Presidio de San Lucas 

" de Golfo Dulce (Centro) . 

" de Cabagra 

" de Buenos Aires . . . . , 

Pueblo de Terraba 

' ' de Baruca 




Total 



105 

128 

136 

66 

77 

75 

51 

55 

52 

57 

53 

85 

29 

153 

303 

43 

125 

107 

175 
4,716 



1,350 
567 
100 

67 
57 
62 
130 
132 

83 
60 
106 
106 
100 
47 
55 
63 
45 
43 
53 
45 
36 
58 



220 

40 

154 
124 
214 

4.153 



Total. 



2,53s 
1. 271 
248 
152 
138 
143 
276 
322 
20^ 
158 
211 
234 
236 

113 
132 
138 
96 
98 
105 
102 

89 
143 

65 
153 
523 

83 
279 

231 

389 

8,869 



62 



Canton de Esparza. 



Barrios, etc. 



Males. Females. Total. 



Ciudad de Esparza (Centro) I 607 

Barrio de San Jeronimo ] 159 

" de San Rafael | 275 

" de San Juan Grande 

" de San Juan Chiquito I 53 

" de Macacona j 131 

" de Los Nances [ 118 

" el Bar6n 52 

" de Paires 91 

" de Maraiional 

" de Juanilama \ 80 

Total 1 1,724 




Gomarca de Litnon. 

Canton de Limon. 



ciudad de Limon (Centro) . . . 
Barrio de Reventazon ... 

" de Matina 

" de Jimenez 

" de Hospital in 12 millas . 

' ' de Tortuguero ...... 

" de Estrella, Cieneguita, ) 
de Bananito y Cahuita J 

" de Talamanca 

Total 




Costa Rica had in 1892, taking this, census as 
313 communities distributed as follows: 



basis, 



76 in the province of San Jose with 76,718 inhabitants 



73 ' 


' " Alajuela ' 


57,203 


32 ' 


' " Cartago ' 


37,973 


31 ' 


' " Heredia ' 


31,611 


53 ' 


' ' ' Guanacaste ' 


20,049 


40 ' 


' comarca de Puntarenas ' 


12,167 


8 ' 


' " Limon ' 


7,484 



1 203,505 inhabit- 
ants in tierta 



teniplada or 
temperate zone. 

39,700 inhabit- 
ants in tierra 
caliente or 
warm zone. 



As may have been observed, there is a great repetition of 
names in Costa Rica, especially of places named in honor of 
saints, which for commercial convenience will probably be 
changed. Of communities there are not less than 



63 









a a 

■"tl a' 

P o 


c d 



Qo 


,. f « 

n fl o 

fl aJ cd 

0^ 


lO 


named San Rafael . . 


3 


2 


3 


I 




I 


7 


' ' San Juan . . . 


2 


2 


I 


r 


1 


7 


' ' San Isidro . . 


I 


4 


I 


I 


_ 


7 


" Concepcion. . 


- 


4 


2 


I 


_ 


6 


" San Antonio . 


3 


I 


- 


I 


I 


5 


" San Pedro . . 


I 


2 


- 


2 


_ 


5 


" San Francisco 


2 


- 


I 


I 


I 


5 


' ' Ivos Angeles . 


- 


3 


I 


I 


_ 


5 


" San Jose . . . 


I 


3 


- 


I 


- 


5 


San Pablo . . 


2 


- 


- 


2 


I 


4 


" San Miguel . 


I 


I 


- 


I 


_ 


4 


" Santiago . . 


I 


I 


I 


1 


_ 


3 


" San Vicente . 


I 


- 


- 


I 


I 


3 


" San Jeronimo 


I 


I 


- 


- 


r 


3 


" Mercedes. . . 


I 


I 


- 


I 


_ 


3 


' ' Buenos Aires . 


- 


I 


_ 


_ 


I 


3 


" Santa Rosa . . 


- 


- 


- 


I 


2 


2 


" Santa Ana . . 


I 


- 


_ 


_ 


I 


2 


" San Ramon . 


- 


I 


I 


_ 


_ 


2 


' ' San Roque . . 


- 


I 


- 


I 


_ 


2 


' ' Jesus 


- 


I 


- 


I 


_ 


2 


" San Joaquin . 


- 


- 


- 


I 


I 


2 


' ' Santa Barbara 


- 


- 


- 


I 


I 



u o ?i 



Of these 313 communities, distributed in 5 provinces with 
28 cantones and in 2 comarcas with 3 cantones, the followdng 
table gives their relative importance: 



Centers. 

1 had 

12 had from 
51 
79 

109 " 
27 
18 

7 

5 " 

2 " 
I 

I " 



Inhabitants. 

44 



In the 
wafm zone. 



In the 
temperate zone. 



50 to 

100 

250 

500 
1,000 
1,500 
2,000 
2,500 
3,000 
6,000 
20,000 



100 
250 
500 



I 
II 
40 
25 



1,000 17 ... . 

1,500 3 . . . . 

2,000 I . . . . 

2,500 2 . , . . 

3,000 I . . . . 

4,000 ^ 2 

7,000 — I 

25,000 — I 



313 



10 1 



212 



64 

In order to give an idea of the density of the population, 
there is roundly presented in the following table the area 
of each province and comarca, its total population and its 
population per square kilometer: 



Province of San ]os€ . 

" Alajuela . . 

" Cartage . . 

" Heredia . . 

" Guanacaste 

Comarca de Punlarenas 

" lyimon . . . 



Surface in 
square km. 



4,000 

11,000 

3.500 
1,500 
10,000 
11,060 
13,000 



Total Pop- ^^Pg"^^^;^" 
ulation. "^ f5" ^ 



80,000 
60,000 
40,000 
30,000 

20,0C0 
12,000 

8,000 



20.00 

5-45 
11-43 
20.00 
2.00 
1.09 
0.61 



Temperate zone. 



Warm zone. 



In regard to the age of the population, the census of 1892 
shows that there were: 



Males. 
4,820 

15,153 

16,706 

14,849 

11,876 

11,412 

11,160 

9.652 

6,868 

5,824 



Females 






Years. 


4,348 


of less than i 


14,438 


from 


I to 5 


16,688 




I 


5 " 10 


13,865 




1 


10 " 15 


12,450 






15 " 20 


11,764 






20 " 25 


10,838 






25 " 30 


9,520 






30 " 35 


6,283 






35 " 40 


5,878 






40 " 45 



Males. 

3,929 
3,949 

2,037 

2,085 

913 

593 
347 
147 

85 
43 
32 



Females. 
3,817 from 45 
50 



Years. 

to 



4,032 
2,084 
2,T45 

952 

755 
426 
281 
no 

58 

43 



55 
60 

65 
70 

75 
80 

85 
90 



50 

55 
60 

65 
70 

75 
80 

85 
90 

95 



95 to over 100 



The military census gives the following figures of able- 
bodied men in the different cantones, provinces and comarcas : 



Province of San Jose 



Sanjos^ . . 

Escasii . . i . 
Desamparados 

Puriscal , . . 

Aserri . . . . 

Mora . . . , 

Tarraz6 . . . 
Goicoechea 



3,345 from 18 to 35 years 

702 
1,121 

93' 
623 
767 
299 
362 

8,150 



Total. 
1,218 from 36 to 50 years, 4,563 



241 
372 
289 
197 

235 
88 

138 

2,778 



943 
1,493 
1,220 

820 
1,002 

387 
500 

10,928 



65 



Province of Alajuela. 



Alajuela . . 


• 2,125 


"roni 


iSto 


35 years 


• 732 


San Ramon 


• i,i9f 








. 409 


Grecia . . . 


. 1,121 








• 387 


Atenas . . . 


■ 943 








• 151 


San Mateo . 


. 42S 








. 142 


Naranjo . . 


• 697 








. 229 


Palmares . . 


• 442 








• 157 



6,947 



732 from 36 to 50 years, 2.S57 

" " 1,600 

" 1,508 

" " 1,094 

570 

926 

599 



2,207 



9.154 



Province of Cartago. 

Cartago . . . 2,512 from 18 to 35 years . , 869 from 36 to 50 years, 3,387 
Paraiso ... 923 " " . . 327 " " 1,250 

La Union . . 381 " " . . 163 " " 544 



3,816 



1,359 



5.175 



Heredia . 

Barba .... 341 " 

Santo Domingo 623 " 

Santa Barbara 298 " 

vSan Rafael . . 478 " 



Province of Heredia. 

1,929 from 18 to 35 years . . 738 from 36 to 50 years, 2,667 

122 " " 463 

201 " " 824 

109 " '« 407 

136 " " 614 



5,669 



1,306 



4,975 



Liberia . . . 


• 732 


Canas . . . 


122 


Bagaces . . 


. 146 


Santa Cruz . 


. 578 


Nicoya . . . 


. 491 



Province of Guanacaste. 

732 from 18 to 35 years . . 257 from 36 to 50 years, 989 

40 " " 162 

51 " " 197 

185 " " 763 

139 " " 630 



2,069 



672 



2,741 



Comarca de Puntarenas. 
913 from 18 to 35 years . . 270 from 36 to 50 years, i , iS^ 



Comarci de Limon. 

78 from 18 to 35 years . . 39 from 36 to 50 years, 117 



Total 
Costa Rica . . 25,642 



8,631 



34.273 



66 



The movement of the population in regard to births, 
deaths and increase was in 1892 as follows: 



Province or Comarca. 



San Jos6 . . 
Alajuela . . 
Cartago . . 
Heredia . . 
Guanacaste 
Puntarenas 
Limon . . . 



Total 



Births. 


Deaths. 


Increase. 


3,458 

2,633 

1,616 

1,412 

717 

464 

62 


1,665 

1,159 
802 

835 
284 
264 
58 


1,793 

1,474 

814 

577 

433 

2CO 

4 


10,362 


5,067 


5,295 



During- the first half of 1897 there were in the capitals of 
the same provinces or comarcas the following births and 
deaths: 







Births. 






Deaths. 




Illegiti^ 
mate. 


Legiti- 
mate. 


Total. 


! 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


San Jose . 
Alajuela . 
Cartago . 
Heredia . 
Liberia . . 
Puntarenas 
Liraon . . 




179 
S2 

63 
13 
34 
35 
28 


428 
290 

357 
76 
13 
15 
7 


607 ■ 

372 

420 

89 
47 
50 
35 

1,620 


■ 
825 


795 


247 
117 
133 
85 
13 
44 
38 


209 
i>5 

117 
92 
M 
35 
24 


456 
232 
250 
177 
27 

P 
62 


Total .... 


434 


1,186 


825 


795 


677 


606 


1,283 



Deaths by Ages. 

From I to 5 years 709 

From 6 to 20 years 65 

From 21 to 50 5'ears .* . 317 

From 51 and upward 192 



Total 1283 

These data show in favor of births over deaths an in- 
crease of 337, of whom 148 were males and 189 fem'ales. 
The causes of death in each 1000 cases were as follows: 



Fever 220 

Cholera infantum 112 

Diarrhea 52 

Dysentery and colic 77 

Typhoid fever 26 

Bronchitis and pneumonia . . 91 

Phthisis 42 

Influenza 17 

Dropsy 31 



Heart failure 31 

Apoplexy and paralysis ... 81 

Indigestion 12 

Gastro- enteritis 15 

Enteritis 28 

Inflammation 35 

Cancer . . 16 

Blood-poison 17 

Syphilis 5 



67 

In regard to social conditions, the population of Costa 
Rica was distributed in 1892, by percentages, as follows: 



Province or 
Comarca. 


i 1 

! Married. \ Divorced. 

i 


Widowers. 


Widows. 


Single 
Male. 


single 
Female. 


San Jos6 . . . 
Alajuela . . . 
Cartago . . . 
Heredia . . . 
Guanacaste 
Puntarenas 
Limon .... 


27.52 0.3S 

' 28.71 0.1 1 

1 26.76 0.08 

' 28.33 0.07 

22. 82 0.64 

18.17 1 0.30 

5.05 ' 0.16 


0.89 
0.87 
1.16 
1.06 
1.60 
1.17 
0-39 


2.98 
3-17 
3-98 
3.22 
3-59 
3-51 
0.70 


33-77 
34.16 
34.82 
32.94 
37-53 
40.07 
69. iS 


34-46 
32.98 
33-20 
34-3S 
33.82 
36.78 
24.52 



With respect to instruction there were 28,208 individuals 
who could read, and 48.215 persons who could read and write, 
leaving 166,782 illiterates, or 68.58 per cent of the entire 
population who could not read or write. 

It will be interesting for the economist to know the per- 
centage of the population capable of reading, or writing and 
reading. It is as follows: 



Province of Gurtago. 



Province of San Jose. 



; Readers. 



San Jose i 20.00 

Bscasti j s.oS 

Desamparados . , 15.40 

Puriscal j g.i6 

Aserri 5.32 

Mora 6.05 

Tarrazii .... 9.C9 

Goicoechea . . . , 12.83 

i 

! 14-72 



Readers 

and 
writers. 



9-52 
20.01 
11.82 

6.55 

6.21 

10.95 

21.64 





Readers. 


Readers 

and 
writers. 


Cartago 

Paraiso 

La Union 


11.50 
6.42 
10.83 


16.83 
8.92 
17.10 




10.38 


15.23 



Province of Heredia. 



25.69 



Province of Alajuela. 





Readers. 


Readers 

and 
writers. 


Heredia 

Barba 

Santo Domingo . 
Santa Barbara . . 
San Rafael .... 


15.42 
12.72 
14.16 
11-53 
9.08 


27.81 
20.27 
19-50 
17.40 
14.81 




13-77 


22.45 





Readers. 


Readers 

and 
writers. 


Alajuela 

San Ramon . . . 

Grecia 

Atenas 

San Mateo .... 

Naranjo 

Palmares 


10.09 
8.48 
8.32 
5.51 
7.84 

10.06 
6.c6 


20.17 
10.02 
11.22 
9-45 
12-55 
12.98 
15-45 




S.71 


14-33 



Province of Guanacaste. 





Readers. 


Readers 

and 
writers. 


Liberia 

Caiias 

Bagaces 

Santa Cruz .... 
Nicoya 


14-65 
7.71 
8.94 
10.47 
11.84 


19.08 
10.85 
18.63 
13-14 
15.05 




11.60 


15.48 



68 



Comarca de Puntarenas» 




Readers. 


Readers 

and 
writers. 


Puntarenas. . . . 
Esparza 


7-05 

7-43 


16.55 
11.76 




7-15 


15-25 



Gbmarca de Limon. 





Readers. 
5.76_ 


Readers 

and 
writers. 


Limoii 


^^Al-3 


Total Costa Rica . 


11.60 


19.82 



The total literates were 76,423 persons, or 31.42 per cent 
of the population. 

In the capitals of the dififerent provinces and comarcas 
the proportion was as follows: 



Readers. 

San Jose 25.37 P^^ cent. 

Alajuela / 16.92 " 

Cartago 19-99 " 

Heredia 15.66 " 

Liberia 9.38 " 

Puntarenas 17.25 " 

Limon ..... 13-47 " 



Readers and Writers. 
44.62 per cent. 
31-58 
37-83 
36.31 
21.96 
26.24 
39-55 



20.53 



38-77 



For these cities the total literates were 23,488 persons or 
59.5 per cent, of their populaition. 

There were, out of the total number, 17,483 school chil- 
dren, who were taught by 451 teachers in public schools. 

There were also 6289 foreigners in the country, of which 

2,516 were in the Province of San Jose. 

395 " " " Alajuela. 

362 " " " Cartago. 

13S " " " Heredia. 

634 " " " Guanacaste. 

1,293 " Comarca de Puntarenas. 

1,051 " " " Limon. 



These foreigners were distributed by nationalities as fol- 
lows : * 



1,302 Nicaraguans, 
831 Spaniards, 
812 Colombians, 
634 Jamaicans, 
622 Italians, 



342 Germans, 
246 Englishmen, 
204 Americans, 
195 Salvadorans, 
189 Frenchmen, 



160 Guatemalans, 
156 Cubans, 
175 Chinamen, 
132 Hondurans. 



69 

With respect to occupations, there were in Costa Rica in 



1892: 



896 Cattle- farmers, 


2,102 Carmen, 


8,314 Agriculturists, 


96 Mule drivers. 


male, 


565 Masons, 


194 Agriculturists, 


279 Butchers, 


female. 


900 Merchants, 


22,190 Laborers, 


911 Clerks, 


349 Servants, male. 


92 Lawyers, 


2,348 " female, 


46 Surveyors, 


40 Cooks, male. 


131 Barbers, 


3,801 " female, 


913 Government 


4,541 Seamstresses, 


employes, 


1,031 Laundr}' iron- 


541 Cigarmakers, 


ers. 


265 Hat makers, 


5,873 Laundry clean- 


III Bakers, 


ers. 


54 Pharmacists, 


366 Tailors, 


II Commission 


378 Shoemakers, 


merchants. 


980 Carpenters, 


36 Watchmen, 



82 Blacksmiths, 
88 Hotel keepers, 
42 Physicians, 
243 Musicians, 
16 Engineers, 
12 Mechanics, 
6 Miners, 
41 Painters, 
20 Silversmiths, 
15 Watchmakers, 

27 Saddlers, 
49 Tanners, 
12 Dyers, 
77 Printers, 
84 Sailors, 

28 Carpet makers. 



A distribution of the people by their principal occupa- 
tions in the different cantones was as follows: 



(See next page.' 



70 



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73 

The criminal statistics of Costa Rica for 1896 were as fol- 
lows: 

There were 4022 delinquencies punished by the police 
courts, namely: 1,295 i" San Jose, 626 in Alajuela, 678 in Car- 
tage, 520 in Heredia, 200 in Liberia, 424 in Puntarenas and 
279 in Port Limon. Of these there were convictions of 

1686 for drunkenness and disorder. 
861 for slight misdemeanors. 

340 for fighting, domestic scandals and inflicting slight injuries. 
274 for violations of sanitary and moral ordinances. 
280 for vagrancy. 
80 for carrying arms. 
65 for petty larceny. 
6 for larceny. 

There were also 989 criminal sentences recorded in the 
Court of Second Instance, together with 124 criminal and civil 
judgments in the Court of Cassation. 

The national "Presidio de San Lucas" contained at the 
same time 170 prisoners. Costa Rica in 1896 had 1744 prosti- 
tutes, m'ostly between sixteen and twenty-five years of age, 
under supervision. Nearly half of this number were in San 
Jose, the rest in the ports and in Heredia, Akjuela and Car- 
tag-o. Nearly 300 women were in the hospitals being treated 
for venereal diseases, while 502 individuals were registered in 
the "Department de profilaxis venerea." 

There were during the same year thirteen commercial in- 
solvencies, two cases of absolute and three of partial divorce. 

The different courts of the country, during the year of 
1896, entered 5417 civil and testamentary judgments, including 
a number concerning mining and national land claims 

The people of Costa Rica must be considered as standing 
high above those of the neighboring countries in regard to 
morals and civilization. The mass of the people is indus- 
trious, honest, sober, clean, comparatively well-clothed, 
economical, obedient to the authorities and respectful of the 
laws. 



VII. 



IMMIGRATION AND COLONIES. 



Im'migration to Costa Rica has been small. During the 
first half of 1897 there entered 1533 individuals by Port 
Limon and 389 by the Port of Puntarenas; but during the 
same time 11 50 persons left Costa Rica through Port Limon 
and 344 through Puntarenas. The result is a gain of only 
428 persons in favor of the country. In 1896, the ex!cess of 
registered immigrants over emigrants was 11 12 persons, 
there having entered 3980 and departed 2868 persons. Sev- 
eral times attempts have unsuccessfully been made by for- 
eigners to establish colonies. 

Still there is a colony in the Department of Guanacaste, 
called "Colonia de Nicoya," which was commenced by 
Cubans, headeid by Maceo, the late Cuban revolutionist 
chief. This colony possesses a sugar factory and five 
trapiches, producing 720 quintals of sugar and about 3000 
quintals of mascabado. Only five colonists still cultivate 
tobacco. The colony has a school for boys and another for 
girls, the latter attended by thirty and the other by forty 
pupils. Besides there is here postal service and a telegraph 
office. 

A second colony located in the San Carlos district is 
known as ''Colonia de Aguas Zarcas," and has 500 lots, but it 
does not progress for lack oi roads and markets easy to reach. 

A third colony was established in Santa Clara, on a 
branch of the Atlantic Railroad. But there are actually there 
only eight families with about seventy hectares of cultivated 
land, one trapiche and a saw-mill. 

(74) 



75 

Another colony was started by the River Plate Trust, 
Loan and Agency Company, Limited, in Turialba, near the 
railroad between Limon and San Jose. There were 500 
acres sold for 15 pesos each, 2071.9 acres for 20 pesos each, 
750 acres for 25 pesos each, and 1381.1 acres for 30 pesos 
each, the land being situated on the Tuis River and Cabeza 
de Buey. Besides a contract was made with W. C. Beal from 
Portland, Oregon, U. S. A., for the sale of 14,000 acres on 
condition of procuring each year for seven years the settle- 
ment of a number of families to cultivate these lands. In 
order to give easy access to the markets, a cart road is in 
process of construction, which will connect the colony with 
the nearest railroad station. 

The Government of Costa Rica is now preparing new 
laws in regard to immigration, colonization and sale of 
national lands. The former laws have been suspended, the 
Government being convinced that the lands approprialted in 
former years are more than sufficient to respond to the re- 
quirements of the next twenty years. The Government also 
thinks it to be preferable to promote by resitriotive laws the 
subdivision of these lands and their cultivation than to con- 
sent to new grants under the former statutes. Exceptions are 
to be made for colonization companies and enterprises 
adapted to the economic development of the country. 

In former years the Government of Costa Rica has often 
offered inducements in the way of land-grants for European 
immigration. In 1849 a grant of land of twenty leagues in 
length by twelve in breadth was made to a French company 
for 1000 colonists. The conditions of the contract were not 
carried out, though a considerable number of immigrants 
formed under it an establishment. A similar grant was made 
on the Atlantic coast to a British company, which had no re- 
sult. 

Still another concession was made. May 7, 1852, to a 
German company organized at Berlin with Baron von 
Billow as Director. This enterprise died with its manager in 
1856. 

A further attempt was made in 1852, by Crisanto Medina, 
to whom a large grant of land was made for colonization pur- 



76 

poses at Miravalles, about 2500 feet above the sea, but this 
project too was abandoned after settling about thirty-seven 
Germans on the grant. In 1856, some French immigrants 
came, and in 1858 another colonization law was passed, and 
ever since the Government has persisted in the policy of aug- 
menting the population by offering inducements to foreigners 
to settle in Costa Rica. All these Government proffers have, 
however, proved ineffectual. 



VIII. 



PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 

Elementary instruction of both sexes is compulsory and 
at the expense of the Government. 

The following data are obtained from the Minister of 
Public Instruction, Licentiate Ricardo Pacheco. In 1896 
Costa Rica had 327 primary schools with 21,913 enrolled 
pupils, or 53 per cent, of all the children of school age, as 
can be seen in the following table : 





Number of Official 
















Schools 






Number op Pupils. 




















u 


Hr^ 


§0 si 




m 
>» 


pq 





'6 





in 

n 


Girls. 


s 
^ 





u 

m 
u 

V 




V 
V 


a 
8i3 


San Jos6 .... 
Alajuela .... 


43 


43 


6 


92 


3,766 


3,766 


7,118 


78.45 


28.81 


9.27 


54-57 


4b 


45 


i5 


107 


3,02s 


2,862 


5.890 


55-04 


32.36 


10.29 


60.57 


Heredia .... 


25 


24 


I 


50 


1,817 


1,475 


3.292 


65.84 


24-75 


8.66 


51-07 


20 


20 


7 


47 


2,132 


1,728 


3,880 


82.56 


26.76 


12.27 


72.19 




II 


9 


I 


21 


649 


513 


1,162 


55-33 


21.92 


5-79 


34-09 


Puntarenas . . . 
I.,itnon 


5 


4 


— 


9 


297 


199 


496 


55-11 


22.59 


4.07 


23.98 


"~ 


~ 


I 


I 


30 


45 


75 


75.00 


37-50 


1. 00 


58.96 




150 


145 


32 


327 


11,719 


10,194 


21,913 


67.01 


27-94 


9.01 


53- 



This great number shows a marked predisposition of the 
people in favor of education. It is also a fact that Costa Rica 
holds the first place of all Latin American nations in regard 
to public instruction. 

The number of school buildings is 215, besides 29 hi 
process of construction and 50 projected. These 215 build- 

(77) 



78 

ing-s are the property of the "Juntas de Educacion." Besides 
tl-ese, 107 building's are rented and 6 loaned. There are 

92 schools in 48 diflferent localities in the Department of San Jose. 

Alajuela. 
Cartago. 
Heredia. 
Guanacaste. 
Puntarenas. 
I/inion. 

327 schools in 202 diflferent localities. 

Costa Rica has more teachers than soldiers. The num- 
ber of the former reaches the figure of 784, of whom 337 are 
men and 447 women, distributed in the following way: 



07 


67 


50 


27 


47 


29 


21 ' 


' 22 ' 


9 


8 


I ' 


' I ' 





Men. 


Women. 


Total. 


Costa Yearly 
-'cats, jn^to^" 




98 
80 
59 
63 
30 
7 


149 
102 
74 
82 
23 
15 
2 


247 
182 
133 
145 
53 
22 
2 


221 128,540 
167 j 79,920 

126 ! 58,020 
137 ' 61,260 




Cartago 

Heredia 


Guanacaste 

Puntarenas 

I<imon 


45 : 25,680 
13 11,700 
2 i 2,100 




337 1 447 


784 


711 \ 367,020 



Amonigf the foreisfn teacher.^ are: 



38 Spaniards, 
12 Colombians, 
9 Nicaraguans, 
2 Guatemalans, 



2 Salvadorans, 
2 Germans, 
I Honduran, 
I Mexican, 



I Venezuelan, 
I Frenchman, 
I Englishman, 
I Italian. 



The average monthly salary is 45 pesos. 

There are over 250 "Juntas de Educacion" in the differ- 
ent Departments, Cantones and Districts. 

The National Government aided them with 95,587.59 
pesos, in the following manner: 

16,572.99 pesos to the Juntas of the Department of San Jose. 



14,686.10 

2,100.00 

31,768.50 

30,100.00 

^60. 00 



Alajuela. 
Cartago. 
Heredia . 
Guanacaste. 
Puntarenas. 



79 

To aid these Juntas a special school-loan has been made; 
besides the taxes on slaughtering are turned over to them. 

Higher education is given in the Liceo de Costa Rica, 
with 206 enrolled students, and in the Colegio Superior de 
Senoritas, with 223 students, both in San Jose; also in the 
provincial Institutes of Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia. 

There is in addition a school for medicine and pharmacy 
in San Jose with seventeen situdents, and a law-E'cihool depend- 
ent on the "college of lawyers." 

For other higher studies the Government pays the ex- 
penses of ten Costa Ricans in European universities and high- 
scho'ols. Fur^ther, the Government of Chile allows six Costa 
Ricans to study at its expense in the pedagogical Institute of 
Santiago. 

Another very important national institution is the "In- 
stituto fisi'co-geografico," under the direction of the very 
competent Professor H. Pittier, with three sections; a geo- 
graphical section for topographical study and a construc- 
tion of maps, also a meteorological and a botanical section. 
Their excellent publications have proved the great usefulness 
of this institution, and it is to be wished that its able and 
learned director will get adequate aid to carry out his promis- 
ing studies of the physical features of Costa Rica. 

Another useful institution is the "National Museum," 
under the intelligent direction of a young Costa Rican 
scientist, Mr. Anastasio Alfaro. It has an interesting section 
of archaeology and ethnography, and a section of zoology, 
already rich in cabinets, to which is attached a small zoolog- 
ical garden. 

A third useful institution is the "National Library" with 
10,242 catalogued books and about 5,000 more ready to be 
registered and incorporated. 

The first steps towards the organization of educational 
institutions were taken in 1824, under the administration of 
Don Juan Mora Fernandez. Then public instruction was de- 
clared an obligatory duty of the State. The institution, 
which afterward became the University of Santo Tomas, was 
founded in 1844, at the instig"ation of Dr. Castilo. The efforts 
of Costa Rica to 'advance education have been great and sus- 



8o 

tained, and it is to be remarked that those in office have con- 
stantly shown laudable interest in the matter. In 1869 the 
Normal School was opened and a system adopted in harmony 
with modern standards. 

As related to the subject of public education, the follow- 
mig list enumerates the names of the principal daily and 
weekly papers, periodicals and annual publications: 

The principal newspapers are: 



Dailies: 

L,a Gaceta oficial, 
Diario de Costa Rica, 
Iva Repiiblica, 
El Heraldo, 



El Figaro, 
La Prensa libre. 
El Diarito, 
El Imparcial, 



El Pabellon Liberal, 
La Union Cat61ica. 



Weekly publications are: 

La Abeja medica, 

Boletin de las Escuelas Primarias, 

La Gaceta medica, 

El Latiguillo, 



El Sancho Panzo, 

El Bocaccio, 

La Voz del Pueblo. 



Annual publications are: 

Anales del Museo Nacional, 

Anales del Institute fisico-geografico, 

Anuario estadistico, 



Anuario de la Inspeccion general 
de enseiianza, 
Metnorias de los Ministerios. 



IX. 



TRANSPORTATION, POST AND TELEGRAPH. 

Port Limon on the Atlantic and Puntarenas on the Pacific 
O^cean are first in importance among the means of com- 
miunication of Costa Rica. 

In 1894 there entered the Port of Limon 294 vessels (271 
steamers, 20 barks and 3 goletas), with a tonnage of 348,355 
tons. Of these, 16 vessels bore the mational flag, 142 the 
English, 12 the French, 26 the German, 27 the Swedish-Nor- 
wegian, 47 that of the United States, 11 the Nicaraguan,. and 
3 the Colombian flag. 

During the same year there entered the Port of Punta- 
renas 158 vessels (125 steamers, 24 barks, 5 paileboats, 4 
launches), having a tonnage of 155,869 tons. Of these, 14 
carried the national flag, 34 the English, i the Italian, 23 the 
German, 3 the Swedish-Norwegian, 4 the Danish, 74 that of 
the United States, and 5 the Colombian flag. 

lln 1895 there entered the Port of Limon 311 vessels, 
\vith a tonnage of 281,361, while in the Port of Puntarenas 
there entered 147 vessels, with a tonnage of 146,313. 

In 1896 there entered the Port of Limon 258 steamers 
and 41 sailing vessels, while 152 vessels entered Puntarenas, of 
which 73 were steamers of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- 
pany, 28 steamers of an English cattle transporting company, 
8 German steamers of the Cosmos and Kirsten lines, 9 Co- 
lombian paileboats, 16 German barks, 11 Norwegian barks, 
3 English biarks, 2 Italian barks, and i French bark. 

The agents of the dififerent steamship lines in the capital, 
San Jose, are, lor the Poit of Limon : Mr. Juan Knohr for the 
Hamburg American Steamship Company; Mr. John M. 
Keith for the Atlas Line; Mr. I. R. Sasso for the Italian 

(81) 



82 

Line, La Veloce; Messrs. Lyon & Co. for the Royal Mail 
Line; Messrs. W. J. Field & Co. for the Prince Line; Mr. 
Minor C. Keith for the Spanish Transatlantic Line; Messrs. 
Alvarado & Co. for the French Transatlantic Line; Mr. 
Minor C. Keith for the New Orleans lines; while Messrs. 
Rohrmoser & Co. are the agents for the Port of Pinitarenas 
of the Hamburg Pacific Steamship Company, the Kosmos 
Line and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. 

There are two important railroads, the Atlantic and the 
Pacific Railroads. The Atlantic Railroad goes from the Port 
of Limon westerly to Alajiiela, a distance of 190 kilometers. 
The stations on the line are Limon,. Moin, S. Mouth, 
Matina, Siquirres, La Junta, Pascua, Torito, Turialba, Las 
Pavas, Tucurique, Juan Vihas, Santiago, Paraiso, Cartago, 
Tres Rios, Curridabat, San Pedro, San Jose, San Juan, Santo 
Domingo, Heredia, San Joaquin, Rio Segundo, Alajuela. 

A branch of this road starts from La Junta, a point about 
thirt'V-fo'ur kilometers west o'f Port Limon, and runs first 
northward and then westward urnitil it reaches Guapiles, a 
recently founded colony on the plains of Santa Clara. It was 
originally intended to lay the track to Carrillo and through 
the La Palma Pass to San Jose, but this plan has not been 
carried out. 

Another branch goes from Port Limon to the Banana 
River, a distance of about five kilometers. 

The gross earnings of this road were: 

In 1891-1892 1,409,598 pesos. 

" 1892-1893 1,973.936 

" 1S93-1894 2,250,979 

" 1894-1895 2,446,701 

" Second half of 1895 892,932 

"■ 1896 2,618,113 

The net earnings were as follows: 

In 1891-1892 362,066 pesos. 

" 1892-1893 697,479 " 

" J893-1894 674,452 " 

" 1894-1895 1,030,160 " 

" Second half of 1895 677,986 " 

" 1896 . .- 1,114,290 " 



83 

It moved during the fiscal year of 1896: 



574,723 passengers. 

10,315 tons of goods for export. 

23,245 " imported goods. 

34,558 " local freight. 

52,335 tons or 1,570,060 bunches of bananas. 

3,801 animals. 



This road has a number of good station-buildings, and 
a pier at Port Limon with all facilities for the quick handling 
of freight, especially of bananas. The freight rates are rela- 
tively very high. 

The Pacific Railroad, about fourteen miles (or twenty- 
two kilometers) in length, belongs to the Government, and 
runs from Puntarenas east to Esparta, about seven hundred 
feet above the sea. It received in 1896, 18,486.60 pesos from 
freights and 19,392.80 pesos from passengers. 

During the same tinie the Government expended 
24,288.31 pesos in improvements. 

Another railroad, on Government account, is under con- 
struction to connect San Jose with the Pacific coast, and a 
million pesos are annually set aside for the work. It is to 
be about ninety kilometers long and to run most of the way 
through the valley of the Rio Grande. The western end for 
about itwenty-four kilometers will cross a roughly broken 
country in order to reach the roadstead of Tivives. 

An important line of railway is projected to run from 
Jimenez, on the Guapiles branch of the Costa Rica Railway, 
fifty-six miles from Port Limon, to the mouth of the Rio FriO, 
near its entrance into the Lake of Nicaragua 

It is to cross the River San Carlos near El Muelle, from 
which point it is proposed to extend the line through a low- 
pass of the 'Miravalles mountains, about two thousand feet 
above sea-level, to Culebra Bay on the Pacific. Such a rail- 
way wiould contribute enormously to the development of 
northern Costa Rica. The region traversed by the line is 
highly fertile. A connection of' the Costa Rica Railway with 
Lake Nicaragua would also give to the State of Nicaragua 



84 

a much needed convenient atcess to the Atlantic Ocean for 
nearly its entire trade. 

Another important project President Iglesias conteim- 
plates. It is a ship canal along the coast line from Matina to 
the Colorado River, and even on to the mouth of the San 
Juan, a total distance of over sixty-five miles. This coast 
consists of a continuous narrow sandbank between which and 
the mainland there is an inlet or arm of the sea, said to be 
navigable now for the whole distance. 

This ship-canal would open an extensive banana region 
as well as excellent lands for the cultivation of cacao and 
rubber trees and many other tropical plants. 

With respect to other internal 'communications, there 
exists a fairly good cart-road, opened about sixty years ago, 
from Cartago via San Jose to Puntarenas. Over this road 
nearly all export and import traihc was done until the 
Atlantic Railroad was opened in 189 1. 

Another cart-road runs across Guanacaste to Nicaragua. 
Besides these roads there is a sra'all number of shorter and 
more local roads, not counting la well-paved one, about 
twenty-five miles long, now partly abandoned. It goes 
through the La Palma Pass towards Carrillo, Santa Clara 
and the Atlantic coast. 

There is a tramway in Cartago, connecting the city with 
its suburbs and Aguacaliente. In San Jose a trolley line is 
soon to be established. Away from the conveniences now 
enumerated the people are wont to ride on horse or mule 
trails. The Government, however, takes care to increase 
and improve ifche cart-roads and other means of communica- 
tions. During the last fiscal year over one hundred and nine- 
ty-four thousand pesos were spent on roads and bridges, and 
there is no doubt that Costa Rica, in this respect, too, is far 
ahead of the other Central American countries. Most of the 
Government expenditure named was spent on the national 
cart-rolad, the roads to San Carlos, Purisoal, Tablazo and 
Sarapiqui and on bridges over the Rio Grande, Reventazon, 
Bagaces, etc. In each district there is a "Junta Itineraria" for 
the conservation and improvement of roads, every proprietoi 
participating in proportion to his property. 



85 

The following itinerary of roads and water routes, their 
distances and character, is reproduced from Mr. Richard Villa- 
franca's "Costa Rica:" 



Distances from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. 



Towns. 



Alajuela . . 
Atenas . . . 
Aguacaliente 
Aserri . . . 
Alajuelita . . 



Boca de Toro . . . 
Bustamante .... 

Boruca 

Buenos Aires . . , 
Buena Vista . . . 
Boca de San Carlos 
Boca del Rio Frio . 
Bebedero ..... 

Baguces 

Belen 



Chile . . . 
Candelarita 
Curridabat 
Carrillo . . 
Cartago 
Cangrejal . 
Chirripo . 
Cot . . . 
Carrizal 
Chilamate 



Desamparados 



Escas<i . . . . 
Estero Grande 
Esparta . . . 



Filadelfia 



Grecia . . 
Guatuzo . 
Guaitil . . 
Guadalupe 



Heredia . . . 
Hacienda Vieja 

Juan Viiias . . 

La Vibora . . 
I,a Palma . . . 



Distance 
in miles. 


Character. 


13 


Rail, cart road. 


24 


Cart road. 


15 


Tramway, cart road. 


6 

3 


Cart road. 

<c 


160 


Navigation from lyimon. 


21 


Saddle road. 


120 


(( 


120 


(( 


48 


Cart road. 


123 


Navigation, 


132 




132 




147 


Cart road. 


183 


" 


18 


(1 


30 


Saddle road. 


3 


Railroad, cart road. 


25H 


Cart road. 


12 


Railroad, cart road. 


123 


Cart road. 


42 


Saddle road. 


18 


Cart road. 


12 


(( 


60 


Saddle road. 


3 


Cart road. 


4/2 


(( 


78 


Navigation. 


47 


Cart road. 


177 


" 


24 

ocl/ 


(1 


25/4 

18 


Saddle road. 


3 


Cart road. 


6 


Railroad, cart road. 


72 


Navigation. 


27 


Railroad, cart road. 


27 


Saddle road. 


12 


Cart road. 



86 



Towns. 



liSL Laguna 

La Boca del Infierno 

Litnon . 

Los Frailes ... 

Las Cruces 

La Laguna de Aserri 

La Virgen 

Los Ojos de Agua . . 
Los Angeles .... 
La Barranca . . . . 
La Cuesta Vieja . . . 
Las Canas . . . . . 

Liberia 

La Cruz 



Muelle de San Carlos 
Muelle de Sarapiqui . 



Nueva Santa Maria 

Naranjo 

Nicoya 



Orosi 

Palmira . . . . 
Puntarenas . . 

Peie 

Paraiso .... 
Pirris de Aserri 
Paquita .... 
Pacaca .... 



Rosario 



Santa Rosa 

Santa Cruz . ..... 

Santo Domingo .... 

San Mateo 

Salimos 

Sarchi 

Sapotal 

Santiago de Puriscal . . . 

Sarcero 

San Jer6nimo 

San Roque 

San Rafael 

Sabanilla 

San Pedro de la Calabaza 

San Ramon 

San Miguel 

San Joaquin 

Santo Domingo 

San Cristobal 

San Miguel 



Distance 




in miles. 


Character. 


15 


Cart road. 


18 


" 


98 


Railroad. 


18 


Saddle road. 


18 


" 


10)^ 


" 


54 


' * 


18 


Cart road. 


27 . 




25K 


' ' 


54 




139 




165 




201 


Saddle road. 

* 


69 


" 


66 


>i 


60 


(( 


33 


Cart road. 


213 


" 


18 


II 


180 




60 


Railroad, cart road. 


60 


Cart road. 


i6}4 


Railroad, cart road. 


30 


Saddle road. 


75 


" 


14 


Cart road. 


12 


Saddle road. 


220 


Cart road. 


198 


II 


39 




36 


" 


42 


* * 


30 




27 


Saddle road. 


24 


Cart road. 


40>^ 


" 


30 




27 




19;^ 


" 


18 


<i 


18 


" 


51 


Saddle road. 


42 
24 


Railroad, cart road. 

II II . 


Cart road. 


27 


Saddle road. 



87 



Sabanilla de Aserri 
San Ignacio .... 
Santa Maria . . . 
San Marcos ... 
San Pablo Dota . . 
San Cristobal . . . 
San Miguel .... 
San Jer6nimo . . . 
San Isidro .... 
San Vicente . . 
San Pablo .... 
Santa Ana . . . . 



Tres Rios . 
Tabarcia . 
Tucurrique 
Turialba . 
Tambor . . 
Tapezco 
Tempate . 



Distance 
in miles. 



Character. 



26 de Abril 



Villa Santa Barbara 
Villa Barba .... 
Varablanca .... 



Zapote 



24 
12 
36 
30 
27 
12 
4X 

VA 

6 

3 

30 

1% 

7 

9 
36 
33 
15 

213 
209 



9 
30 

45 



Saddle road. 
Cart road. 



Saddle road. 
Cart road. 

Railroad, cart road. 
Cart road. 

Railroad, cart road. 
Cart road. 



The postal scvvice is performed by seventy local post- 
offices. Correspondence is dispatched twenty-six times per 
month to f'oreig"n ootintries by steamers, and four times per 
month overland to the neighboring cotmtries. Fromtheportof 
Limon the mail goes to Europe, via Hamburg, twice a month, 
the I3th and 29th; iby the Royal Mail on the 9th day of 
each month; and via Marseilles on the 12th of each month; 
to Europe and the United States via New York every Friday, 
and to Europe, the United States and Mexico via New Or- 
leans every Monday. 

From the Port of Puntarenas the mail goes to the West 
Indies and South America, via Panama, three times a month, 
a-nd as often also to the States of Central America. Overland 
to Nicaragua the mail is sent, via Liberia, every Thursday. 
In the Gulf of Nicoya are three steamers in the postal service. 



88 



namely the 
The principal 

Alajuela, 

Aserri, 

Atenas, 

Barba, 

Eagres, 

Eallena, 

Boruca, 

Eebedero, 

Cartago, 

Carrillo, 

Curridabat, 

Desamparados, 

Desmonte 

Escasu, 

Esparta, 



Timtarenas," 
post-offices in 

Guaitil, 

Guadalupe, 

Grecia, 

Heredia, 

Humo, 

Jimenez, 

Juan Vinas, 

Ivimon, 

Iviberia, 

L,as Canas, 

La Union, 

L,a Cruz, 

Mojon, 

Matina, 

Naranjo, 



"Fernandez" and "Dr. 
Costa Rica are these: 



Castro." 



Nicoya, 

Old Harbor, 

Pacaca, 

Puriscal, 

Puntarenas, 

Palmares, 

Paraiso, 

Quemadas, 

Reventazon, 

San Isidro, 

Santo Domingo, 

Santa Barbara, 

San Rafael, 

San Antonio, 

San Pedro, 



San Lucas, 
San Marcos, 
Santa Ana, 
San Juan, 
San Vicente, 
San Ramon, 
San Carlos, 
Sardinal, 
Santa Cruz, 
San Bernardo, 
Santa Maria Dota, 
Siquirres, 
San Mateo, 
San Joaquin, 
T^rraba. 



In 1896 there were received from 



Pieces. 
The United States 

of America . . 189,966 
Great Britain . . 64,763 
Germany . . . 45,900 
France. .... 43,276 



Salvador . . 
Spain . . . 
Guatamala . 
Colombia . 
The Antilles 



Pieces. 
37,425 
29,966 
27,000 
20,063 
13,341 



Honduras 
Italy . . . 
Nicaragua 



During the same year there were sent out to 



Pieces. 
The United States 

of America . . 45,547 
Guatamala . . . 25,020 

Spain 23,230 

Salvador . . . . 20,194 



France .... 

Italy 

Great Britain, 
Germany . . 
Nicaragua . . 



Pieces. 
22,738 
8,333 
20,425 
17,559 
14,577 



Colombia . 
The Antilles 
Honduras . 
Argentina . 



Pieces. 

10,697 

11,970 

8,835 



Pieces. 
14,577 
10,148 

9,159 
6,354 



The entire postal service comprised the movement of 
3,494,515 pieces, 23,843 money orders and 6919 parcels. The 
receipts of the postal department were 48,318.69 pesos. On 
postal money-orders there were paid 358,280.76 pesos. 

There are 1190 kilometers (744 miles) of telegiraph lines 
connecting the following 65 offices: 



Limon, 
Matina, 
Juan Vitias, 
Cachi, 



Escasu, 
Santa Ana, 
Pacaca, 
Puriscal, 



Naranjo, 
San Carlos, 
Zarcera, 
San Ramon, 



Nicoya, 
Ballena, 
Bolson, 
Santa Cruz, 



Paraiso, 
Cartago, 
I<a Union, 
San Isidro, 
San Vicente, 
Guadalupe, 
Curridabat, 
Santa Maria, 
San Marcos, 
Aserri, 

Desamparados, 
San Jos€, 
Central, 



89 

Santo Domingo, 

Heredia, 

San Isidro, 

San Rafael, 

Barba, 

Santa Barbara, 

San Joaquin, 

San Antonio, 

Alajuela, 

Sabanilla, 

San Pedro, 

Grecia, 

Sarchi, 



Palmares, 

Atenas, 

Desmonte, 

San Mateo, 

Ksparta, 

Puntarenas, 

Quemados, 

Guacimal, 

La Junta, 

La Palma, 

Canas 

Bebedero, 

Colonia Cubana, 



Filadelfia, 
Sardittal, 
Bagaces, 
Liberia, 
Santa Rosa, 
La Cruz, 
Turialba, 
San Ignacio, 
Buena Vista, 
San Jer6nimo. 



The number of private telegrams dispatched in 1896 to 
the interior was 270,284; of official messages to the interior 
was 69,172; official telegrams transmitted to Central America, 
1086; private telegrams to Central America, 6554; telegrams 
received from Central America, 5413; cablegrams received, 
26,762; cablegrams transmitted, 2845. 

The toital receipts from the telegraph service amounted 
in 1896 to 183,791.75 pesos, and the rates are very cheap. The 
nearest cable station is San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua. 

There are also 203 miles of telephonic wire between San 
Jose and other communities and plantations, with about 2500 
daily calls. 



X. 



AGRICULTURE AND LIVE STOCK. 



Agricultural enterprise in Costa Rica is chiefly devoted 
to coffee. The proper coffee zone lies between 800 to 1400 
meters of elevation on both ocean slopes. Experiments have 
proved that the coffee-tree can also be successfully cultivated 
at a height of 600 meters, and still lower down, by moderating 
the glare of the sun with adequate shades and by pruning to 
correct excessive igrowth and fructification. 

"Coffee was introduced into the country from Havana in 
1796 by Francisco Javier Navarro, as were also the mango 
and the cinnamon. Tihe first seeds were sown in Cartago. 
Much credit for the propagation of coffee culture in Costa 
Rica is due to Padre Velarde, under the government of 
Don Tomas de Acosta, who took great interest in agricul- 
ture. 

"During- the administration of Don Juan Rafael Mora 
(1849-1857) farming received a remarkable development, for 
it was much promoted by the construction of important roads. 
The cultivation of coffee and sugar cane then absorbed the at- 
tention of the country to such an extent that, in 1861, 100,000 
quintals were exported." (J. B. Calvo's book on Costa Rica). 

The census of 1892 supplies the following figures con- 
cerning coffee: 

Province of San Jose. 



San Jos6 . . . 
IBscasti .... 
Desamparados . 
Puriscal . . . 
Aserri .... 

Mora 

Tarrazfi . . . 
Goicoechea 

Total . . . 



Number 

of 
planta- 
tions. 



Number 

of 

trees. 



Crop 

in 

quintals. 



Crop 

in 

kilogr. 



1,628 
297 
313 
183 
223 
137 
83 



7,321,708 

913,712 

2,115,123 

85,701 

272,809 

42,312 

28,121 

302,143 

11,081,629 
(90) 



95,942 


4,413,732 


15,328 


705,088 


28,645 


1,317,670 


254 


11,684 


701 


32,246 


191 


8,786 


112 


5,152 


10,432 


479,872 


151,605 


6,974,230 



2,648,239 

450,840 

859,290 

7,620 

21,030 

5,730 

3,360 

167,955 

4,164,064 



91 



Alajuela . 
San Ramon 
Grecia . . 
Atenas . . 
San Mateo 
Naranjo . 
Palmares . 

Total . 



Province of Alajuela. 



Number 

of 
planta- 
tions. 



547 
214 
497 
50 
20 
171 
402 



Number 

of 

trees. 



2,247,809 

715,592 
. 917,201 

110,599 
23,883 

299,829 
1,368,689 



1,901 



5,683,602 



Crop 

in 

quintals. 



26,546 
5,527 

10,997 

1,027 

189 

40,321 

22,998 



107,605 



Crop 

in 
kilogr. 



1,211,116 

254,242 

505,862 

47,242 

8,694 

1,854,766 

i,o?7,9o8 



4,939,830 



Value 

in 
pesos. 



796,380 

165,810 

329,910 

30,810 

5,670 

1,209,630 

689,940 



3,228,150 





Province of Cartago. 






Number 

of 
planta- 
tions 


Number 

of 

trees. 


Crop 

in 

quintals. 


Crop 

in 
kilogr. 


Value 

in 
pesos. 


Cartago 


505 

91 

387 


727,893 

633,995 

1,667,809 


8,529 
4,985 
16,295 


392,334 
229,310 
749,570 


249,870 
149,550 


La Union 


488,850 


Total 


983 


3,029,697 


29,809 


1,371,214 


888,270 



Province of Hcredia. 





Number 

of 
planta- 
tions. 


Number 

of 

trees. 


Crop 

in 

quintals. 


Crop 

in 

kilogr. 


Value 

in 
pesos. 




1,371 
247 

391 
399 
121 


3,249,901 
885,891 

2,147,824 
496,809 
335,725 


36,893 

11,792 

32,810 

3,201 

4,509 


1,697,078 
542,432 

1,509,260 
147,246 
207,414 


1,106,790 




3'^i,87o 


Santo Domingo 

Santa Barbara 

San Rafael ........ 


984,300 
96,030 
135,270 


Total . 


2,529 


7,116,150 


89,205 


4,103,430 


2,674,260 



Altogether Costa Rica, in 1892, had 8366 coffee-fiucas 
with 26,911,078 coffee-trees, and a crop of 378,224 quintals 
or 17,388,704 kilograms, valued at 10,954,744 pesos. 

It may be iiiterestinig to learn the amount of the coffee 
crops since 1883, given in sacks of fifty-nine or sixty kilo- 
Sframs each. 



1883. 
1884 . 
1885. 
1886 . 



Sacks. 
153.379 
277,158 
157,515 
150,618 



1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 



Sacks. 
218,032 
171,898 

215,793 
256,576 



1891 
1892 

1893 
1894 



Sacks. 
235,703 
179,970 
190,700 
179,613 



1895 
1896 
1897 



Sacks. 

184,825 

195,263 

227,582 



92 

Another important agricultural product of Costa Rica 
is the banana. Its cultivation was begun on the Atlantic 
coast in 1879, and the first 360 bunches were shipped, Febru- 
ary 7, 1880, by steamer "Earnholm" from Port Limon to New 
York. 

In 1884 there were 350 farms, comprising- over four 
thousand acres of land, containing 570,000 banana plants, 
from which, in that year, 420,000 bunches were o^btained. 
Before 1879" banana plants were set out in coffee plantations 
to shade the young trees and shelter their berries. The 
bananas were used to feed pigs. The laboring classes kept a 
few plants, using the fruit boiled with salt, or roasted on hot 
coals instead of bread. 

The following table shows the banaina export figures 
since 1883: 

Bundles. Tons. 

1883 110,801 3,693 

1884 420,000 14,000 

1885 401,183 13,373 

1886 595,970 19,866 

1887 ^ . . . . 889,517 29,651 

1888 854,588 28,486 

1889 990,898 33,030 

1890 1,034,765 34,492 

189I 1,133,717 37,791 

1892 1,178,812 39,294 

1893 1,278,647 42,621 

1894 1,374,986 45,833 

1895 1,585,817 52,861 

1896 1,692,102 56,400 

Sugar cane is used largely in Costa Rica as fodder and 
in the manufacture ^of aguardiente; also to produce the raw 
sugar or dulce, which is consumed entirely by country people. 

'In 1889 sugar cane by provinces was raised on the fol- 
lowing number of acres: 

In San Jose on 4819 acres; in Alajuda on 5076 acres; 
in Gartago on 1466 acres; in Heredia on 11 14 acres; in Guana- 
caste on 719 acres; in Puntarenas on 1471, and in Limon on 
122 acres. The aggregates were 14,787 acres, and a produc- 
tion of 1,368,000 pounds O'f sugar and 18,454,000 pounds of 
dulce. 



93 

Cacao culture has received but little attention in Costa 
Rica, because the more profitable coffee plantations absorb 
all the time and capital. The number of plantations regularly 
established up to 1888 was 198, having in all 56,426 trees that 
yielded in the same year 331,900 pounds valued (at 165,770 
pesos. Most of the cacao was cultivated in Aserri, Atenas, 
Naranjo, Heredia, Paraiso, Guanacasite and Limon. 

Cacao was exported from 1884 to 1889 as follows: 



Years. Pounds. Value in Dollars. 

1884 9,927 3,227 

1885 • 16,271 4,084 

1886 . 5,776 2,223 

1887 • 10,906 4,708 

1888 18,410 3,576 

1889 28,830 12,386 

Total 90,120 30,204 

Excellent cacao was grown during Spanish colonial days 
around Matina, but none is exported now. 

With respect to wheat, up to i860 there was sufficient 
for the consumption of the country. It was so intelligently 
cultivated that the finer grades were produced. The rise In 
the price of coffee and the competition with the flour of the 
United States and Chile drove out the native wheat almost 
entirely, and to-day the cultivation of this grain is badly 
neglected. To-day the only flour-'mill in this country grinds 
imported wheat. 

Tobacco was a monopoly for many years, and only re- 
cently has 'the culture been taken up by the people. 

Other important agricultural products are rice, beans, 
corn and potatoes. 

The cultivation of rice in Costa Rica demands very little 
care and no irrigation to produce two crops a year of a very 
superior quality. Beans and corn are successfully grown 
everywhere in the country, while the raising of potatoes is 
almost wholly confined to the hillsides of Cartago and Ala- 
juela, where they acquire an extrem'ely fine quality. 

According to the census of 1892, the average annual 



94 

production of these crops for that and the two preceding 
years was in liters as follows: 





Corn. 


Beans. 


Rice. 


Potatoes. 


San Jose 

Alajuela 

Cartago 


8,394.527 
6,898,549 
7,874.642 
2,949,692 
1,862,598 
392,721 
18,525 


1,842,527 
999.652 

1,724,628 
132,842 
92,321 

21,325 
2,822 


236,543 
867,528 

. . . 

121,342 
132,845 


7.915 

• . ■ 

1,745,725 


Guanacaste 




Puntarenas 

Ivimon 




Total . . 


28,391,254 


4,816,117 


1,358,258 


1.753,640 



Important agricultural districts are, besides the Central 
Highland's about one hundred and fifty kilo'meters in length 
iDy sixty kilometers in wddth, the great valleys of Talamanca, 
Santa Clara, Tortuguero, San Carlos and Rio Frio. Along 
the Pacific the great valley of Terraiba and the plains of Golfo 
Duke and Guanacaste are fertile regions, which, if properly 
tilled, would offer advantages equal to the Central Highlands, 
where nearly the entire population of Costa Rica is concen- 
trated. 

Plants characterizing fertile lands, rich in humus, on the 
Atlantic slope, are Piper, especially that witli large leaves, 
Loascce, and certain Acanthaccoc. On the Pacific side such 
characteristic plants are Piper, with smaller leaves, the Pacaya 
Palm, and some ferns. Especially are the Aspidimn and 
Polypodium found in large quantities. 

Considering the future of Costa Rica, the question of 
farm labor is of vital importance There are only a few In- 
dians, and they are rapidly decreasing. It looks as though 
the fertile lowlands on the Atlantic and Pacific sides, as well 
as those in the extensive and fruitful San Juan valley, must be 
turned over to the Negro race as the only one capable of en- 
during so inhospitable a climate. These regions are the 
richest of all and could sustain a large population. 

The live-stock of Costa Rica, thoug*!! in general superior 
to that of the rest of Central America, is not yet sufficiently 
large to supply the local demand. Although there has been 
recent improvement in breeding cattle and horses, yet the high 
grade animals, which could be easily introduced into a 



95 



country of so many natural advantages, are still lacking. At 
different times the development of 'this industry has been at- 
tempted. Go&ta Rica has vast pasture lands splendidly 
adaipted to cattle. It has very nutritious forage plants, like 
arrocillo, cola de venado, zacate de guinea, zaoate de castilla, 
zacate para, zacate ancho, gfam^a, guate, dafia de azucar, 
gamalote, sabanilla, teosinte, lengua de vaca, guacimo, jen- 
gibrillo, platanillo, etc. 

The live-stock of Costa Rica in 1892 was distributed as 
follows : 

Cattle. 

San Jose 51,884 

Alajuela 62,410 

Cartago 48,555 

Heredia 35,391 

Guanacaste .... 134,567 
Puntarenas .... 9,667 
Limon ....... 3,191 



Horses 


Sheep. 


Swiue. 


17,542 


1.538 


23,628 


16,774 


159 


16,185 


9,900 


715 


5,xo9 


6,380 


57 


13,241 


24,458 


296 


2,180 


1,721 


— 


1,128 


268 


— 


857 



Total ..... 345,665 



77,043 



2,765 



62,328 



The consumption of cattle in Costa Rica is exhibited by 
the following: data: 



San Jose . . 
Alajuela . . 
Cartago . . 
Heredia . . 
Guanacaste 
Puntarenas 
Limon . . , 



Total 35,301 



12,851 
7,402 
5,207 
4,864 
2,701 
1,472 
804 







First half of 


1895. 


1896. 


1897. 


12,824 


13,467 


6,942 


7,184 


7,180 


3.493 


4,881 


5,297 


2,506 


4,942 


4,249 


2,438 


1,990 


1,928 


882 


1,471 


1,302 


770 


789 


798 


488 



34,081 



34,221 



17,519 



Further official reports disclose that in the capital the 
consumption of meat is quite uniform during the entire year, 
while in the country it is greater from August to January 
than from February to July. 

The total value of the natural, agricultural and Hve stock 
products of the country has been calculated at 19,000,000 
pesos. 



XL 



COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. 

Joaquin Bernardo CaJvo, in his work on Oosta Rica pub- 
lished in 1890, observes that "at the beginning of the Colonial 
Government the Port of Suerre, on the Atlantic coas.t, had 
some commercial im'portance, but that the Port of Rivera 
on the west coast of the Gulf of Nicoya was greater, as were 
also Coronado del Norte on the Island of Caiio and the Golfo 
de Ossa, now Golfo Duke. 

"All the ships then plying on the Pacific between Mexico 
Panama, Peru and intermediate ports were wont to ride at 
anchor at the Island of Oafio. The most impoirtant centre of 
commerce in those times was the City of Santiago de Tala- 
manca, now extinct, whence cargoes were sent in three days' 
time to Porto Bello. The exports of that age were catao, 
potatoes, honey, wax, sarsaparilla and hemp. When the city 
was destroyed its traffic was dispersed. 

"In 1638 the opening of the Matina road was the begin- 
ning of a new era. The cacao haciendas in the valley of that 
name acquired a new importance. At the same time tihe Gulf 
of Nicoya became a centre of traffic. Costa Rica was then 
in a flourishing condition and would have prospered finely 
but for the pirates and Mosquito Indians, who constantly 
menaced its welfare and whose vandalism ravaged the coast 
settlements. 

"After that period Costa Rica was reduced to woeful 
misery, carrying on an insignificant commerce overland with 
Panama by mules and sending a few unimportant articles to 
Nicaragua. Thus more than a century passed. 

"In the present century (181 3) the Captaincy General im- 
posed severe restrictions on the commerce of the Province. 

(96) 



97 

At the time of declaring independence the situation of Costa 
Rica was wretched. 

"Just beginning an independent career, struggHng to in- 
augurate a system of government wholly new and opposed to 
the preceding one, contending with poverty, in a state of com- 
plete upheaval, the work undertaken by the forefathers of 
the present Costa Rioans was full ai difhculties. 

"Coffee culture gave a new impulse and importance to 
Costa Rica. At the close of the first half of the Nineteenth 
Century commerce was carried on with the north through 
Matina and Sarapiqui, and through Caldera on the Pacific. 

"The greater facilities available on the Pacific coast, how- 
ever, especially when a line of steamers connecting with the 
Panama Railroad opened a new way to the Atlantic, turned 
the course of 'business to Puntarenas, a new port which soon 
became the sole commercial route. 

"This state of things, unnecessarily adding to the ex- 
pense of importations, continued for years. When the Port 
of Limon was opened to commerce the competition of two 
routes and the new facilities of a railroad and a wagon road 
to the Atlantic greatly promoted traffic and contributed to 
the general wealth." 

In 1848 seventy vessels entered Puntarenas, having a 
registration of 7180 tons. In 1884 this number had increased 
to 113, having 137,368 tons registration, and in the same 
year there entered Port Limon 121 vessels of 126,875 aggre- 
gate tonnage. In 1894 there entered 158 vessels with 155,869 
tons at Puntarenas, and 294 vessels with 348,355 tons at Port 
Limon, The freight in 1858 on cofifee to Panama by steamer 
alone was five-eighths of a cent per pound. In 1870 the West 
India and Pacific Co'mpany's steamers received as freights 
from Puntarenas to Liverpool, £5 los. od. per ton; from 
Puntarenas to London, £6 2s. 6d. per ton. 

In 1888 freights from Puntarenas to European ports 
were £4 per ton, and from Port Limon £2. To-day the freight 
rates are cheaper still. 

The present tariff is in many ways inequitable. It is 
based on no principle, and, with the exception of some later 
laws especially enacted, it does not correspond with the 



economic condition and commerce of the country. Yet on a 
great number of articles the tariff is less than in Mexico, 
Guatemala, Salvador, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay. 

The custom-duties are collected on gross weight, and 
generally amount to from twenty to twenty-rfive per cent, on 
the valuation of imports. They are paid one-half down and 
one-half within three months' time. All goods for Costa Rica 
have to come accompanied by corresponding consular in- 
voices. The principal importations are silk, wool, linen, cot- 
ton, machinery, implements and tools for agriculture and 
other industries, furniture, glassware, tinware, hardware and 
haberdashery, ornaments, articles of luxury, mercury and per- 
fumery, beer, wines, liquors, soap, coffee-sacks, flour, sugar, 
shoes, saddles, harnesses, butter, etc. 



Table of Exports and Imports of Costa 

EJxportations. 

1884 $3,745,400 gold. 

1885 2,535,500 " 

1886 2,257,600 " 

1887 . 4,689,100 " 

1888 4,052,300 " 

1889 4,612,800 " 

1890 6,664,700 " 

1891 .... 6,116,800 " 

1892 4,725,900 " 

1893 . ■ . 4,294,200 " 

^^94 112,488,263 silver. 

^Q„, / 5,922,204 gold. 

■^'^y>3 • ■ \ 14,509,440 silver. 

1896 5,597,727 gold- 



Rica Since 1884. 

Importations. 
13,521,900 gold. 
3,660,900 " 
3,537,600 " 
5,601,200 " 
5,201,900 " 
6,306,400 " 
6,615,400 " 
8,351,000 " 
5,389,700 '• 
5,849,500 " 

4,094,853 " 

3,851,460 " 

4,748,818 " 



Imports and Exports by Countries. 



Great Britain 
Germany 
France . 
Spain . 
Italy . 
Belgium 
United States 
Mexico . . 



Imports in gold. 
11,702,145 

947,647 

526,382 

189,623 

32,412 

7,280 

1,295,682 

18,725 



Exports in silver. 
^916,287 
386,737 
70,004 



3,642,896 



182,326 


120,912 


I25,4i6 


800 


3.890 


502 


123,921 


— 


81,609 


— 



99 

Colombia 

Ecuador . 

Peru 

Cuba 

Jamaica 

Central America 252,691 75, 810 

1893- 

Imports in gold. 

Great Britain ^1,697,944 

Germany . . . , . . 1,123,836 

France ... 807,761 

Spain . 192,026 

Italy 39,829 

United States . . . . r, 399,615 

Mexico 1 1,993 

Colombia 228,036 

Ecuador ... 94,387 

Cuba . . 40,023 

Jamaica 25,939 

Central America i43,437 

Total ^5,804,926 

1894. 

Imports in gold. 

Great Britain . ^07,462 

Germany ....... . ... 566,367 

France 223,479 

Spain (Cuba) ... ... 103,276 

Italy 40,215 

United States 940,640 

Colombia 32,138 

Ecuador ........ 36,917 

Belgium „ . . 7,082 

Commodities Imported in 1894. 

Gold. Pesos. 

General merchandise #2,857,580 56 7,062,224 60 

Merchandise not dutiable .... 944,835 09 2,335,065 44 

Coined money 4,183 46 10,339 00 

Silver bars 89,018 37 220,000 00 

Animals 30,929 84 76,440 00 

Animals coming overland .... 91,041 52 225,000 00 

Lumber , 15,911 27 39,323 12 

Passengers' baggage 6,352 45 15,699 45 

Merchandise from custom houses . 5 000 00 12.3,570 00 12j3S'7,oo 

Merchandise by post 50,00000 123.57000 

Total 14,094,852 56 10,120,018 61 



lOO 

Total Exports for 1894. 

Gold. Pesos. 

Cofifee ... .14,198,252 08 10,375,560 19 

Bananas 443.315 37 1,095.609 60 

Coined money 58,611 78 144,852 95 

Gold, not coined 23,500 00 58,078 10 

Woods. . 144,58466 357,32653 

Various products . 115,231 68 284,783 58 

Unspecified products 69,617 57 172,052 86- 

Total 15,053.113 U 12,488,263 81 

1895. 
Imports by Countries. 

Gold. 

Great Britain 1851,849 

Germany 684,118 

France 261,534 

Spain (Cuba) . 223,441 

Italy '. ■ . - 33,088 

Belgium 5,978 

United States 1,179,546 

Central America 263, 

South America 65,633. 

1896. 

Gold. 

Great Britain 11,264,85633 

Germany . - 893,816 66 

France 378,906 35 

Spain (Cuba) . . 162,825 54 

Italy . . ■ 71,769 52 

Belgium ... 3,089 48 

Denmark . 103 05 

Portugal 24 oa 

United States 1,401,074 25 

Central Americ . . 813 75 

Colombia ... ■ 16,951 48 

Ecuador • 38,385 27 

Peru 15,791 3S 

Commodities Imported in i8g6. 

Gold. 
Merchandise entered at custom houses .... 14,226,925 05 

Merchandise sent by post 61,622 93. 

Baggage of marine passengers 6,095 84 

Baggage of overland passenger.s 5,000 00 

Woods . 21,481 9& 

Animals ■■ . • - 423,069 23 

Coined money 4,623 59 

Total 14,748,818 62 



lOI 

Total Exports for i8g6. 

Gold. 

Coffee, 11,089,523 kgs., valued at 14,318,285 90 

Bananas, 1,692,102 bunches, valued at .... 670,07240 

Woods, valued at 485,695 35 

Coined and other metal, valued at 29,459 5° 

Re-exports and provisions, valued at . . . 11,32859 

Various commodities 82,885 27 

'^°^^^ • • • 15,597,727 01 

Imports by Countries for First Half of 1897. 

Gold. 

Oreat Britain .... 1518,833 37 

Germany 357,652 02 

France 167,303 77 

^P^^" 55,154 48 

^"^^ 20,543 78 

^t^ly 83,070 50 

Belgium 4_8g3 ^^ 

United States 871,646 91 

South America . ., , 94 571 90 

Santo Tomas '445 00 

Nicaragua lo^y^g go 

Guatemala 288 06 

Salvador 21,334 50 

Postal packages 44,999 30 

Merchandise in passengers goods i,493 40 

#2,252,970 39 
Additional for 3816 animals, valued at ... . 74,743 60 

'^'^^'^ J^2,327,7i3 99 

The following list, which I owe to the amiability of the 
highly competent Director General of the National Depart- 
ment of Statistics, Hon. Manuel Aragon, shows the principal 
articles of import and their value in gold pesos by countries 
since 1893: 



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I04 



Among other countries Spain, including Cuba, imported 
in 1893, alcohol ($26,346), cigarettes ($11,418), cognac 
($8976), liquors ($14,719), cotton cloth ($19,416), and wnes 
($126,417); in 1894, alcohol ($15,500), cigarettes ($7753), 
wines ($30,436); in 1895, alcohol ($81,000), cigarettes 
($10,800), tobacco ($6288), wines ($46,957). 

Colombia imported in 1893, alcohol ($7783), cacao 
($4229), cattle ($115,847); in 1894, caoao ($9710); in 1895, 
cacao ($11,720), tobacco ($6959). 

Italy imported in 1893, marble ($4623), wines ($14,791); 
in 1894, wine ($3491); in 1895, butter ($2209), hats ($1240), 
cotton cloth ($1568), and wines ($6933). 

Central America imported in 1893, tobacco ($112,418), 
sugar ($9895), cacao ($2846), maize ($6891), ibutter ($2893), 
cigars ($7626). 

The exportation during the -first six months of iSgy was as 
follows: 





Total value. 


Port of Ivimon. 


Port of Puntarenas. 




Kilos. 


Value. 


Kilos. 


Value. 


Coffee, in pargement . 
Coffee, in oro 


Gold. 

1538,462 20 

4,127,698 05 

225,267 50 

Silver. 

525,042 09 

67,831 16 

4i,.t43 59 

13,961 95 

7,200 00 

6,117 17 

5,977 59 

2,898 15 

2,809 96 

1,590 14 

1,487 00 

1,679 00 

1,767 00 

700 00 

640 67 

606 04 

377 15 

143 75 

223 02 

68 00 

374 32 

350 00 

200 00 

150 00 


1,794,874 
10,139,879 
27,400,966 

125,397 

7.587 

12 

6 

49 
1,294 

' " ' '597 
1,846 

1,350 

175 
468 

2,000 
16 


^38,462 20 

3,548,957 65 

225,267 50 

37,665 80 

11,095 75 

7,200 00 

6,117 17 

60 00 

1,548 40 

112 00 

1,487 00 

1,767 00 

52 00 
360 90 

200 00 
150 00 






1,653,544 


$578,740 40 


Cedar wood 

Mora wood 

mdes 

Rubber 


656,451 

3,322,435 

7,945 

2,194 


525,042 09 

67,831 16 

3,777 79 

2,866 20 








Skins 

Cacao 

Guaygacum wood . 
Potatoes 


6,557 

659 

138,000 

11,535 


5,917 59 
1,349 75 
2,809 96 
1,478 14 


Blue thread 


134 


1,679 CO 


So^p 

Cocobola wood .... 
Dulce (mas cabado) . 
Zarzaparrilla .... 

Cedron 

Sugar 

Pita-hats 

Caoba (mahogany) . 
Pearl shell 


1,890 
31,465 
3,565 

264 
732 
70 
III 

2,241 


700 00 

640 67 

554 04 

16 25 

143 75 
223 02 
68 00 
374 32 
478 00 


Turtle shell (carey) . 










Total 


$5,201,966 58 


39,491,033 


^.348,123 


5,231,835 


§853,843 27 



In regard to coffee there were exported from October i, 
1896, to June 30, 1897, 231,904 sacks (13,843,088 kilos), of 



I05 



which 84.67 per cent., or 196,343 sacks, in oro, and 15.33 per 
•cent., or 35,561 sacks, in pargement. From this amount 87.93 
per cent., or 203,913 sacks (12,184,027 kilos), went through 
Port Limon and 12.07 P^^^ cent., or 27,991 sacks (1,659,061 
kilos), through Puntarenas. 

From Limon 61,329 per cent, was transported by the 
Atlas Line, 32.300 per cent, by the British Royal Mail, 2.271 
per cent, by the French Steamship line, 3.299 per cent, by 
the German Line, 0.801 per cent, by other lines. 

It will be interesting to know the places to which this 
large amount of coffee is shipped. These particulars are 
found in the following list : 

Sacks. 

London 133,676 

San Francisco I9>946 

New York 33,S87 

Hamburg 24,833 

Bordeaux 5,827 

Paris ...... 206 

Bremen 12,373 

Montreal 

Antwerp 31° 

Lockport I 

Chicago . . • • I 

Malaga i 

Geneva 439 

Trieste 254 

Valparaiso 5>o 

Panama 62 

Barcelona i 



1 



^ 



Kilogr. 
7,903,450 
1,183,980 
2,072,289 
1,502,311 
346,822 
12,524 



821,712 



J 



13,843,008 



Total 231,904 

In connection with the coffee trade there are here given 
interesting statistics concerning the average annual consump- 
tion of cofifee pej- capita of the population of different coun- 
tries : 

Pounds. 
Greece . . .1.24 
Italy .... 1. 00 
Great Britain, i.oo 
European 
Russia . ,0.19 



Holland 
Denmark . 
Belgium . 
Norway . . 
Switzerland 



Pounds. 
. 21.00 
, 13.89 
. 13-48 
. 9.80 
• 7-03 



United States , 
Sweden . . , 
Germany . . 
France . . 



Pounds. 
. 7.61 
. 6.II 
3-94 
• 2.73 



Austria . . . .2.13 



Industries. — The scarcity of working people and the ab- 
sence of capital were formerly the greatest barriers to the 



io6 



progress of industry, while at the same time the abundance 
and relative cheapness of imported articles rendered useless 
all attempts at home production. 

In regard to industrial and manufacturing establish- 
ments and workshops, there were in 1892: 

842 in the Province of San Jose. 

" " Alajuela. 

" " Cartago. 

" " Heredia. 

" " Guanacaste. 

' ' Comarca de Puntarenas. 

" " Litnon. 



700 

193 
272 

187 
89 
20 



2303 



Distribution of industrial and manufacturing estab- 
lishments in Costa Rica. 



Iron foundries 

Blacksmith-shops . . . . 

Gunsmith-shops 

Flour-mills 

Soap factories 

Breweries 

Ice factories 

Distilleries 

Brick and tile factories . , 

Fine brick-yards 

Lime-kilns 

Cartridge factories . . . . 

Sugar factories 

Sawmills 

Coffee-mills 

Iron sugar-mills 

Wooden sugar-mills . . . 

Marble yards 

Stone-cutting yards . . . 

Carpeuter-shops 

Cabinet-shops 

Tailor-shops 

Tanneries ........ 

Shoemaker-shops 

Barber-shops ... 

Saddleries 

Bakeries 

Confectioners 

Drug stores 

Dyeing establishments . 
Photograph galleries. . . 
Printing establishments , 

Lithographers 

Book binderies , 

"Watchmakers 

Silversmiths 

Candle factories 



Total 



205 
248' 



6 

35 
75 
154 



842 I 700 





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639 

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I07 

There are in San Jose the San Jose Foundry and the 
National Workshop, which contributed greatly to the prog- 
ress of mechanical arts, iron manufactures, cabinet work, 
machinery, implements, farming utensils, tools, etc. 

There 'also exist a silk and cotton factory, manufacturing 
fine articles like shawls, scarfs, wraps, in the favorite colors 
of the people; also an ice factory, a shoe factory and a flour- 
mill. 

Among the miscellaneous companies we have to mention 
the Agency Company for unloading and loading vessels, cap- 
ital 200,000 pesos; San Jose Market Company, capital 215,000 
pesos; Cartago Market Company, capital 100,000 pesos; 
Heredia Market Company, capital 100,000 pesos; Monte de 
Aguacate Mining Co'mpany, capital 500,000 pesos; La Trini- 
dad Mining Company, capital 250,000 pesos; Costa Rica 
House Construction Company, capital 250,000 pesos; Costa 
Rica Pacific Gold Mining Company, Limited; Electric Light 
Company. 



XII. 



FINANCE AND BANKING. 

The revenue of the Government of Costa Rica is 
'derived from custom-house duties, revenue stamps and 
stamped paper, liquor monopoly, tobacco revenue, cof- 
fee tax, sale of public lands, tax for registering property, 
tax on slaughtering live stock, etc. 

The national revenue for 1896 was as follows: 

Pesos. 
Revenues proper 6,685,17887 

Public service (post, etc. ) 233,52989 

Various sources 89,079 14 

Funds in administration (postal -money orders, 

etc.) 395,10488 

Public credit 32,718 00 

Total '. 7,435,61078 

To this sum 

Pesos. 

The main custom house in San ]os€ contributed 1,930,746 58 

The custom house in Puntarenas ' ' 474, 148 27 

" " " lyimon " 404,44425 

" national liquor business " 2,242,17496 

Tobacco revenue 778,211 75 

Coflfee tax ^61,415 00 

Lumber tax 15,044 26 

Stamped paper 70, 1 64 30 

Revenue stamps 39,469 38 

Expenditures during the fiscal year ending in 1896 
amounted to 6,697,326.51 pesos, distributed in the follow- 
ing manner: 

Ordinary Disbursements for Administration. 

Pesos. 
Department of Gobernacion 666,42955 

" Police 163,051 84 

" Fomento 628,350 98 

" Foreign Office 101,17074 

" Justice 274,568 S3 

" Public Instruction 630,62741 

fio8) 



log 

Pesos. 
Department of Cultus 24, loi 00 

War 432,94309 

" Military police 235,15256 

Navy 47.559 5i 

" Finance 297,41462 

Various services 1,229,82386 

4,731,19399 
Varioas Services. 

Pesos. 

Department of Beneficence 101,213 44 

Various other services 115,90461 



217,118 05 
Monopoly Services. 

Pesos. 

Buying tobacco, sugar, etc. , freights 277,12634 

Contract of Odilon Jimenez 18,37252 

Contract of Robato & Beguiristain 1,84053 



297,33939 
Funds in Aomimstration. 

Pesos. 

Billets of Instruction 19,883 97 

Postal orders 347, 530 81 



367,41478 
Interior Debt. 

Pesos. 

Bills payable 475,495 55 

Interest and discounts I5,99i 15 

Private deposits 39,558 00 

Amortization of national notes 340,88852 

Hospital of Alajuela 14,215 53 

Bank of Costa Rica, contract of June 20, 1894 . . 135,068 82 

Deposits in favor of pupils of Barroeta 6,558 06 



^ , , 1,027,77563. 

Consolioates. 

Pesos. 

Hospital of San Juan de Dios 13,64000 

Ecclesiastical funds 6,337 5° 

Legate of Barroeta 15,300 00 

Hospital of Cartago 9,638 00 



,r . * 44,91550 

Various Accounts. 

Pesos. 
Flint & Co 4,684 67 

Municipality of Cartago, notes and interest .... 6,884 50 

11,569 17 
Total 6,697,326 51. 



no 



The foreign debt contracted in 1871 and 1872, in Eng- 
land, against the will of the nation, has been disastrous to 
it. It amounts to £2,000,000 in five per cent, debentures. 
Lately an arrangement was made under which the 
amortization of this debt will begin in 191 7, instead of 
1898, and with £10,000 per year, instead of £20,000. The 
government is also authorized to buy in its own bonds for 
their immediate liquidation. 

The floating debt chiefly consists of private deposits, 
of the school-loan, amortization of which is made an- 
nually, of paper money which is received in Ytvy lim- 
ited amounts, and of bills payable, mostly given for sugar 
and syrups to the "National Liquor Distillery" and 
drawn on thirty days' sight. The rest of the floating debt 
scarcely amounts to 50,000 pesos. 

In figures the interior debt of Costa Rica may be 
represented as follows: 79,155.75 pesos in notes of war 
•emission; 1,037,628.43 pesos for various accounts, private 
deposits, cash orders, municipal fund, ecclesiastical fund, 
etc., making a total of 1,116,784.18 pesos. 

Another important factor in the commercial and 
economic life of Costa Rica is the money in circulation. 
Including every kind of emission, notes of the Costa Rica 
bank, national paper money, war-emission paper mone}', 
silver and gold coin, the money in circulation amounted in 





J'esos. 




Pesos. 


IS82-83 . 


• • 4,395,089 


1889-90 . 


• ■ 5,603.512 


1883-84 . 


• -4.129,518 


1890-91 . 


■ • 5,94f.947 


1884-85 . 


. . 3,707,434 


1891-92 . 


. . 5,806,752 


I885-S6 . 


. . 3,619,261 


1892-93 . 


■ ■ 5,630,416 


1886-87 . 


3.899.975 


1893-94 . 


• • 5,507,343 


I887-S8 . 


• • 4,210,733 


1894-95 . 


. . 5,666,207 


1888-89 . 


. .,4,762,8^5 


1895-96 . 


• ■ 5,721,837 



There were in circulation, in 1895-96, currency valued 
in pesos as follows: 3,820,404 of Costa Rica bank notes, 
2764 national paper money, 98,669 war-emission paper 
money, 1,500,000 coined silver money, 300,000 coined 
gold money, total 5,721,837; or 20.08 pesos per capita of 
the population of Costa Rica. 



Ill 

As above indicated, the Government of Costa Rica 
is beginning to displace the notes of the Banco de Costa 
Rica by others issued by the government, maintained at 
par and guaranteed by a gold reserve or by gold certifi- 
cates. 

This monetary question is of such interest and im- 
portance, that the following translation is given from such 
parts of the reports of the Minister of Finance as relate 
thereto. 

"The emission of gold certificates is necessary, as it 
would be impossible to keep the gold coins in circulation 
so long as the quantity of paper money issued by the 
bank, is far greater. Again, in order to avoid the difficul- 
ties which would arise from the constant retirement of this 
paper money, the gold certificates must be issued to fur- 
nish an adequate supply of currency. In this way also the 
Government has the advantage of utiHzing the quantities 
of gold in deposit, and of acquiring by means of those cer- 
tificates resources for fresh coinage of gold pieces." 

'Tn order to avoid embarrassment in the commercial 
and economic life of the country it has been agreed with 
the Banco de Costa Rica to maintain parity between these 
certificates and its notes. By the monetary law of Octo- 
ber 24, 1896, also parity with the actual silver peso was 
-established. It was further agreed that the 'colon de oro,' 
the new gold coin, should correspond in intrinsic value 
with this standard of ratios." 

"For these purposes, there had to be taken into con- 
sideration: First, the actual state of the national wealth, 
estimated in the already established credit circulating 
medium; second, the average range of international ex- 
change during a number of years, and third, the average 
ratio of silver to gold during the same period. There had 
further to be considered the outstanding obligations of 
the interior and of the exterior debt, as well as pending 
negotiations as to exportable products, and the relation of 
the intrinsic value between gold and silver." 

"In this way the following conclusion was reached: 



112 

That the 'colon de oro' should contain 700 milligrams of. 
fine gold, in order not to complicate the situation created 
by the circulating notes of the Bank of Costa Rica, and in or- 
der to include an average exchange of 1 10 per cent, with re- 
spect to the pound sterling, and of 1 15 per cent, with respect 
to the American gold, as well as to create a relation of i to- 
26 between silver and gold. In consequence of this and 
for the purpose of giving to the 'colon de oro' the same 
fineness as has been given to the American gold coin, and 
as has been adopted by the Union Latina, it was estab- 
lished that the 'colon de oro' should have 778 milligrams 
of gold of 900-1000 fineness. Its relation to the gold coins 
of other nations is as follows: 

I American gold dollar Colones 2. 1495 

4 shillings sterling, gold , . " 2.0921 

5 francs, gold " 2.0737 

4 marks, gold " 2.0481 

"In the contract with the Banco de Costa Rica, it 
was agreed that the Government should coin gold period- 
ically. There are already 600,000 'colones de oro' in. 
pieces of 10 colones in Costa Rica, and the Government 
ordered furthermore a second emission of 400,000 colones- 
in pieces of 20 colones each, which will soon be issued. It 
is further willing to coin half a million more in the near 
future. The Costa Rican Bank, on the other hand, is 
obliged to retire a corresponding amount of its notes from 
circulation, and later, as soon as sufficient gold can be put 
in circulation, the exchange of bills is to be made by this- 
bank in gold instead of silver." 

There are sufficient reasons for believing that the- 
Costa Rican Government will succeed in the realization- 
of this highly important economic change without diffi- 
culty. As the Costa Rican Bank no longer has the exclu- 
sive privilege of issuing paper money, new banks must be 
established, with authority to issue circulating notes. As 
these banks will have to keep a reserve of national gold 
coins for the redemption of their paper money, there will 
be an abundance of currencv of a fixed value. As the fine- 



113 

ness of the 'colon de oro' constitutes the best type of 
international exchange, there will in the future be slight 
fluctuations, and this will prove a most valuable guaranty 
of the stability of public wealth. 

The value of the National Government property is 
estimated at 8,522,714.94 pesos. The principal items are: 

Pesos. 
National distillery 900,000 

Central custom-house 500,000 

National theatre ..... . . 905,815 

Metal-building 286,432 

National park 250,000 

Insane Asylum 405,000 

Pacific Railway .... 847,500 

National Palace . 200,000 

Girls' High-School . 350,000 

Islands of San Lucas and Chira ..... 400,865 

Island of Uvita 200,000 

Presidential Palace ... 150,000 

Artillery armory 175,000 

National printing establishment 140,000 

National College in Alajuela 150,000 

National Museum 40,000 

Park of Morazdn . . 159,185 

Liceo of Costa Rica 145,000 

Main armory . 100,000 

Old temple of I^a Merced 100,000 

Ex-University 80,000 

House in San Jos6 100,000 

Place in front of the National distillery 94,172 

Custom-house in Puntarenas . . 100,000 

Pier in Puntarenas 75, 000 

National telegraph 389,936 

Palace of Justice 80,000 

Hospital for lepers 65,000 

Penitentiary 60,000 

Police Stations .... 50,000 

Mint 42,000 

The private property owners are numerous and the 
orderly habits of the Costa Ricans are marked. Costa Rica 
being an essentially agricultural country, the necessity of a 
mortgage law was apparent to maintain and secure the 
equities of all. Hence an official registry of titles and 
mortgages was opened in 1867. 



114 

The landed property of the people of Costa Rica is 
registered in the "Registro PubHco" in the following way: 
J^irsi Inscription. 

Pesos. 
1870, 5,243 fincas valued at 3j378,o35 

1875, 26,947 " " 19.090,557 

1880, 43,281 " " 32,285,339 

1885, 54,540 " " 39,228,567 

1890, 65,858 " " 45.152,936 

1895, 79.651 " " 59,244,326 

1896, 82,614 " " 62,960,222 

1897, 85,755 " " 67,711,398 

Second Inscription. 

Pesos. 
1870, 549 fincas valued at 502,503 

1875, 9.580 " " 9.731.805 

1880, 24,941 " " 25,339,594 

1885, 41,286 '• " 37.251.567 

1890, 63,331 " " 52,702,051 

1895, 89,276 " " 84,105,189 

1896, 94,116 " " 90,654,569 

1897, 99.309 " " 99.147,659 

The following list gives the number of fincas (prop- 
erties) and the amount in pesos for which they were 
mortgaged. 



1868, 

1869 , 

1870 , 

1871 , 

1872 , 
1873 
1874, 
1875. 
1876, 
1877. 
1878, 
1879. 

1880 , 

188 1 , 

1882 , 



fe p 



130 

435 

632 

845 

1,166 

1,565 

2,007 

2,483 

2,909 

3,422 

3,972 

4.748 

5,528 

6,563 

7,373 



o <u 
a J? 



147,931 
580,936 
826,176 
1,112,060 
1,440,810 
1,889,789 
2,667,565 
3,480,011 
4,105,197 
5,359,158 
6,141,955 
6,700,357 
7,944,641 
9.033,333 
9,113,818 



890 

891 
892 
893 
894 
895 
896 
897 



I 



ti. o 

p. 



8,177 
8,523 
8,523 
8,513 
8,475 
8,386 
8,396 
8,417 
8.444 
8,630 
8,968 
9.528 
9,928 
10,511 
11.055 



o 5^ 

otl 
S o 



9,188,730 
9,283,415 
9.331.985 
9. 1 19.853 
9,309,261 
9,027,632 
9,088,676 
9,403,484 
9,772,885 
10,862,961 
12,132,264 
14,110,510 
15,231,308 
16,831,402 
17,686,872 



Net value of the fincas was: 

Pesos. 
1870 2,551,858 1890 

1875 15,610,546 1895 

1880 24,340,698 1896 

1S85 29,896,583 1897 



Pesos. 
35,679,253 
43,347,019 
45,126,821 
48,642,827 



115 



In the last fiscal year from April i, 1896, to March 
31, 1897, the Public Register shows the following move- 
ment: 



5 1" 



(L) O 

rtPn 
> 



1- i-i 



> 



t) o 






O a iG_-r o 3 >n 

■2^-0 O P^ tS 



t^ o CO cy« Q o 10 
oO o a^ o o q >o 
10 d c5\o d in uS 
CO o o r^ CO CMO 

OtTsd" rf tT O UO <n" 

oco 



CO"^ O 10 ► 



000 10 M a\ o o 



o r^ ov ►■ 



) VD CO 



3 vq CO 
oi d d ID t-I 06 06 
w 10 o o M r- o> 

CO CO <N^\D OOCO^ 

vd" CO r^. oT d^ uS 



CO *■ 



roc 



- t^t^ as 



10 CO ir^r^ ► 



!>. OsM w CO 



lOr-TfTt- 



Tt r^ 1000 o o 10 



CO o N cor^co-^ 



KO -^ovo o toco 

Cl CO O CO lO'O o\ 

10 "^00 in CO oj CO 
M loco '^ 10 c^co 

CO O lO O t-^ lO "^ 

d^ CO CO d» CO t-Tvd" 
CO 00 (N M T;^ o 
■o t^ m 10 w 




ii6 



For the same period the "PubHc Register" furnishes 
the following statistics of mortgages on real estate esti- 
mated in pesos : 





Distribution of 
Mortgages. 


Cancellations, 




0) 


as 


U Q, 


T3 

3 3 
02 


V 

^ 

Ph 





u 


id 



San Jos6 . . 
Alajuela . . 
Heredia . . 
Cartago. . . 
Guanacaste . 
Puntarenas . 
Limon . . . 


211 
152 
63 
166 
14 
12 
51 


990,051.28 
348,825.25 
190,864.31 
409,518.63 
86,281.03 
41,843.00 
199,893.84 


294 
60 

77 

139 

3 

4 

16 


796,975.98 

104,565 73 
187,202.05 
263,261.16 
20,000.00 
43,000.00 
19,300.00 


116 
70 
31 

111 

4 
28 


283,513.97 
304,672.37 
111,107.42 
346,415.03 

32,952.00 
139,917.61 


211 

33 
28 
71 

2 
13 


539.572.67 
188,675.39 
41,781.50 
78,297.61 

27,498.00 
95,505-35 




669 


2.267,277.34 


593 


1,434,304.92 


360 


1,218,578.40' 358 


971,330.52 



San Jos6 . 
Alajuela . 
Heredia . 
Cartago . 
Guanacaste 
Puntarenas 
I^imon . . 



Partial Cancellations in Pesos. 



O 11 

go 

< 



169,835.81 

42,414.00 

3, 810. CO 

238,746.76 



66,000.00 



p^ 



37 



O V 



87,560 
4,400 
7.700 

18,368 


81 

00 
00 

42 





17,367.00 



105 



520,806.57 



59 



135,396.23 





Resume. 








Number of 








Mortgages. 


Sum Secured. 
Pesos. 




Rural . . 


669 


2,267,277.34 


Rural 


Urban . 


593 

1262 


1,434,304.92 


Urban 




3,701,582.26 





Resume. 
Total and Partial 
Cancellations. 

Pesos. 

■ . 465 1,739,384-97 

. 417 1,106,726.75 



5,111.72 



Since 1865 the mortgage law permits this mode of 
converting real estate; upon due official registration its 
value may be divided into shares, each represented by a 
cedula or bond, on which as collateral security money can 
be raised at any time with perfect safety. 

This law is included in the Codizo Civil of 1887 and 



117 

since that time cedulas to following amounts have been 
issued: 



Pesos. 

1888 12,000 

1889 60,500 

1890 70,200 

189I 170,100 

1892 380,000 



Pesos. 

1893 336,800 

1894 482,000 

1895 666,000 

1896 ..:.... 1,002,000 
1897 1,381,700 



. The municipal taxes are not high. The owners of 
real estate are required to pay only the taxes devoted to 
the maintenance of municipal police, street lighting and 
the domestic supply of water. 

Other municipal taxes comprise license fees for com- 
mercial business, for slaughtering cattle and hogs; for 
wine houses; taxes for registering of dogs; taxes on tan- 
neries, breweries, coffee-cleaning establishments, ceme- 
teries, etc. 

Other important factors of the economic life of Costa 
Rica are the existing hanking estaUishments. The first 
bank of Central America was established in 1857, in Costa 
Rica, by Crisanto Medina. This institution ceased and, 
in 1863, was replaced by the Banco Anglo-Costaricense 
with an authorized capital of 2,000,000 pesos and a paid-up 
capital of 1,200,000. This bank still exists, together with 
the Banco de Costa Rica established in 1867 with a 
paid-up capital of 2,000,000 pesos. It incorporated with 
itself the former Banco de la Union established in 1877. 

The Bank of Costa Rica has had from the Govern- 
ment the privilege of issuing paper money to the extent of 
four times its cash on hand. The average circulation of 
these bank notes since 1882 has been as follows: 



882-83 
883-84 
884-85 
885-86 
886-87 
887-88 
888-89 



Pesos. 




35,000 


1889-90 


56,400 


1890-91 


168,890 


1891-92 


210,170 


1892-93 


1,004,010 


1893-94 


1,518,290 


1894-95 


2,191,930 


1895-96 



Pesos. 
2,911,479 
3,249,914 
3,037,167 
2,820,892 
3,079,067 
3,565,041 
3,820,404 



ii8 



This issue privilege was withdrawn in 1897 on the 
introduction of the 'colon de oro/ and a special arrange- 
ment was made with the bank to uphold the contemplated 
change from a silver to a gold standard. 

The Banco de Costa Rica, on July 15, 1897, had a 
reserve fund of 745,000 pesos and a dividend account of 
50,000. It has branches in Heredia, Cartago and Alajuela. 
The situation of this bank at the same date was in pesos 
as follows: 

Assets. I^iabilities. 



Cash on hand: 

Coin 1,268,682.33 

Checks against the 
Anglo-C. R. Bank 10,075.43 

Foreign correspondents . . . 
Accounts current 



1,278.757-76 
191,073.64 
335.324-39 



Bills receivable . . 5,373,304.39 
Branch Banks . . . 373.595-05 
Bonds of School- 
loan 40,607.50 

Various obligations 

to collect .... 254,101.99 
Immovable prop- 
erty 167,052.54 

Furniture 10,000.00 

Stamps 1,433.00 

Sundry accounts . 29,131.76 



1,805,155.79 



Securities in commission for 

collection 

Deposit of ' Colones de Oro ' 



6,149,226.23 

7,954,382.02 

394,420.74 
6oo,ooo.eo 

8,948,802.76 



Capital paid up . . 2,000,000.00 
Reserve fund . . . 745,000.00 
Dividend account . 50,000 00 
Discounts 120,984.70 



2,915,984.70 



Notes in circulation 3,929,972.50 

Deposits, on time or 
demand .... 1,108,424.82 

5,038,397-32 

Securities in commission for 
collection 394,420.74 

Government on account 'Co- 
lones de Oro ' 600,000.00 



8,948,802.76 



The bank is ready to retire 540,000 pesos of its own 
notes in correspondence with the first gold deposit of 
600,000 pesos. In view of the satisfactory transactions of 
the Bank 20 per cent, was distributed in dividends for the 
fiscal year ending in 1897. Its manager is Mr. Jose 
Andres Coronado. Its Board of Directors include Messrs. 
Francisco Peralta, Aniceto Esquivel, Fabian Esquivel, 
Daniel Nufiez and Manuel Sandoval. 

The manager of the Banco Anglo-Costaricense is Mr. 
Percy G. Harrison, and its Board of Directors is com- 
posed of Messrs. Adrian Collado, Simeon Guzman, 
Telesforo Alfaro, Gerardo Jager and Mariano Monte- 
alegre. 



119 



The situation of the Banco Anglo-Costaricense on 
June 30, 1897, was in pesos as follows: 



PO 
« 5 N 


'i-oo 1 




mix> M 


rOM 






•*N 



















88 


ts^ 


§8 


^s 




00 


CO ^ 



5t 

Cuvi 
U(4 



U bDV 
rt w o 

o o o 

U3 (A to 

000 

ij V V 
OOP 



s 



o 



^2 

U U) 



s-a 
2^ 

So 

80 

..Sc 

JS "So 
■3 fl « a a 

Ire*' 



^s- 






O " 

m in 

-CO 

a n 
■c-o 

So 



moo 



■2£ 

8« 

to O 

QP4 



«.5^;s 



8 

















00 0\ 




















10 


S" 


00 cs 



O 0\0 I 
■* CTMO 





c • 

r! . 


G 
(d 






a . 


n 














a • 
. 


a 







I: 

8 • 




V 

u 


r 


'Ou 


>- 


OS ' 


Oii 




^ 


u • h 


fllU . 


- 



••o 
• o 
.•a 

beg 
a ^ 



S?* 






a "^ cd '-Tj 
o -g vcj btrr -2 

otn Sen 



■2 "2")^°'^ 

•S .'S lU ai " — 
d) D « I— (S J-] 

uucn « 



>s 
is 

Ss 



o.ti 

(U (U 
O0!j 



an 
aS 

«S 
iLi a 

1-0 

^ a<i^ rt 
'■^ o >,*^ 
'n'-S K o 
a " a a 
y " o M 



« 5 



I20 



Foreign commercial obligations were settled through 
these banks on the following terms: Drafts at three days' 
sight on Paris cost one per cent, less than on London on 
same time; those at ninety days' sight on Paris or Lon- 
don cost one per cent, less than at three days' sight; those 
at sixty days' sight, on New York, cost two per cent, less 
than on three days' sight. Submarine cable transfers of 
money cost two per cent, more than by three days' sight 
drafts with the cost of telegraphing added. 

Until the 24th of March, 1897, the Bank of Costa 
Rica sold drafts on New York for five points more than 
for those on London. Since the 25th of March, 1897, the 
difference of exchange between those cities has been eight 
per cent. 

The rates on London, in October and November, 
1897; were 127, and those on New York were 135. 



XIII. 



POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. 



Costa Rica is a republic, the government of which is 
representative, the representatives being classified so 
that one-half retires every two years. Since 1825 Costa 
Rica has had nine constitutions, the last one having been 
promulgated in 1871. 

The government is administered through three dis- 
tinct branches; namely, the legislative, executive and judi- 
cial. 

Legislative powers are vested in a single house whose 
members are chosen, one for every 8000 inhabitants, for a 
term of four years by an electoral college. This body is 
•called the "Constitutional Congress" and assembles every 
year on May i for a sixty days' session, which may be 
extended for thirty days more. 

The executive power is vested in the President of the 
Republic who is elected for four years and has the power 
of naming or removing his four cabinet ministers. 

Annually, in May, Congress appoints, for a term of 
one year, three substitutes called "designados." During 
the intervals between sessions of Congress legislative 
power is represented by a board of five commissioners 
appointed by Congress. 

Judicial power is lodged in a Supreme Court and in 
subordinate tribunals as constituted by law. The judiciary 
is changed every four years. 

Sufifrage is restricted to popular conventions which 
choose a limited number of electors. These meet in a 
body called the electoral assembly and proceed to choose 
the President of the Republic and the Congressmen. 

(121) 



122 

The Republic is divided into five Provinces and two 
Comarcas or Territories. Both are divided into Cantones, 
and the Cantones are subdivided into districts. 

The Territories are represented in Congress in the 
same way as the Provinces. 

Each Canton has a municipal organization popularly- 
elected and a political chief named by the President. 

In each of the Provinces or Territories there is a 
Governor, and a military commandant also named by 
the President, and a Judge of First Instance appointed by 
the Supreme Court. 

Costa Rica, as soon as she became a member of the 
Central American Confederation, organized a judiciary of 
her own consisting of a superior court, several tribunals 
of first resort in the provinces, and the alcaldes of towns 
who were justices of the peace with jurisdiction over petty 
afifairs both civil and criminal. The Supreme Court has 
since undergone many changes. 

The Supreme Court is a Court of Law composed of 
five justices. Two Courts of second instance have three 
magistrates each. 

In each of the Provinces and in the Comarca of Pun- 
tarenas there are judges having criminal and civil juris- 
diction. 

In the chief towns of each Canton the alcaldes act in 
civil cases of minor importance, and in criminal cases are 
judges of petty offenses, and for graver charges are com- 
mitting magistrates. 

In the districts the justices of the peace and the 
police are charged with maintaining the public peace and 
they act for small misdemeanors in a summary way. 

For fiscal affairs there are an Inspector General of 
Hacienda, an alcalde of Hacienda, and a National Judge 
of Hacienda. There is also a special judge of mines resid- 
ing at San Mateo. 

Punishments are generally neither cruel nor pro- 
tracted. They comprise confinement in a prison or peni- 
tentiary, transportation, or a fine. The penitentiary is on 
the island of San Lucas. 



123 

In 1 8^ I Costa Rica codified its civil and penal juris- 
prudence, amending the code materially seventeen years 
later. This has been the basis of her legal progress and is 
in force except as modified by subsequent statutes. Among 
the more important amendments are these: by the Penal 
Code in effect since 1880 the death penalty is abolished, as 
well as humiliating and cruel punishments; 1886 there 
was promulgated a new Civil Code, in which are prominent 
civil marriages, the right of divorce and the civil equality 
of woman. 

The Code of Commerce in force, founded on Spanish 
customs, was issued in 1853. The Fiscal Code of to-day 
went into effect in 1885. 

The Military Code of 1871 was superseded in 1884 
by another more in accordance with modern institutions. 

The Jury System in criminal cases has been in force 
since 1873. 

The Municipal Statutes prevailing to-day were issued 
in 1867; the General Police Regulations in 1849. 

The "Ley Organica" of tribunals was framed in 1845 
and modified slightly in 1852. 

In 1865 there was promulgated the law for a cred- 
itor's proceedings; the mortgage law was passed in 1865. 

Higher and professional education was provided for 
in 1843 by a law known as the "Statutes of the University 
of Santo Tomas," and in 1886 there was enacted a law for 
common education. 

The Registry of property and mortgages was opened 
in 1867, since which time various reforms have been intro- 
duced into the Mortgage Law. 

There are besides many special laws, like the Mining 
Statutes decreed in 1830; the Water Law of 1884 now in 
force; the Consular Regulations, and others. 

By decree of 24th of November, 1863, the decimal 
system for moneys now in use was adopted. By decree of 
loth of July, 1884, the metric system was adopted for 
weights and measures. 

All Costa Ricans between eighteen and fifty years of 
age are obliged to do military service according to law. 



124 

The army is divided into two parts; the first includes, 
under the head of active service, all soldiers from eighteen 
to forty years of age; the second comprises all the rest 
under the head of ''Reserve." 

There is a third division, known as the National 
Guard, including all citizens capable of shouldering arms 
outside of the foregoing. 



XIV. 



HISTORY. 



Until 1540 Spain reserved for the Crown that part of 
the territory of Veragua lying west of the portion which 
had been granted to the heirs of Columbus, but in that 
year it was erected into a province called Costa Rica. 
According to the narrative of Colonel G. E. Church, 
within a period of sixty years from the date of its dis- 
covery some ten feeble exploring and colonizing expedi- 
tions, mostly from Panama, were fitted out to occupy 
Costa Rica, but they all proved disastrous, the only result 
being the exasperation of the natives whom the Spaniards 
plundered, butchered and treated with signal barbarity. 

Between 1560 and 1573 the limits of Costa Rica were 
defined and confirmed by PhiHp II., those on the Atlantic 
Coast being the same as to-day, so far as Nicaragua is 
concerned. 

In 1562 Juan Vasquez de Coronado was named 
Alcalde and Mayor of the Province of Costa Rica and 
Veragua. He founded the City of Cartago which re- 
mained the capital until 1823. 

Up to 1622 fifteen governors succeeded Vasquez, but 
disappointed in their efforts to find gold, to enslave the 
Indian population, or to make the country prosperous, 
they allowed it to lapse into a barbarism far worse than it 
was at the time of its discovery. 

Barrantes says that in 1622 it had but fifty Spanish 
families, and these were in a condition of extreme poverty. 

A report, which the King ordered to be made about 
that time for purposes of taxation, stated: "In Costa Rica 
no mines of any metal are worked; no gold-washings, no. 

(125) 



126 

indigo cultivation, no sugar-mill exist. The people culti- 
vate only maize and wheat. There is no money. The 
poverty is such that the flour and biscuits which are not 
consumed are exchanged for necessary clothing." 

When Gregorio de Sandoval was named Captain- 
General, in 1634, and reached his port from the Atlantic 
Coast, he noted the importance of having a better port 
than that then existing at the mouth of the river Pacuare, 
and, therefore, in 1639 founded that of Matina, connect- 
ing it by a mule-trail 102 miles long with Cartago. 

From 1666 to the end of the century both the 
Caribbean and the Pacific coasts were ravaged by piratical 
expeditions. 

In 1 718 Diego de la Play a y Fernandez was appointed 
Captain-General. The following year he reported to the 
King on the condition of Costa Rica, which he pro- 
nounced the "poorest and most miserable of all America. 
The current money is the cacao seed, there not being a 
piece of silver in the entire country. There is not an eat- 
able sold in street or shop. Every family has to sow and 
reap what it consumes or expends during the year. Even 
the Governor has to do this or perish. Meanwhile the 
inhabitants of the province are contentious, chimerical 
and turbulent, and among the whole of them there are not 
forty men of medium capacity." 

In 1797 the governorship and military command 
were conferred on Tomas de Acosta, but after ruling for 
twelve years he wrote: "There is not in the entire mon- 
archy a province so indigent as this, for some of the inhabi- 
tants are clothed with the bark of trees, and others, that 
they may go to church, hire and borrow from their 
friends." 

This may be said to have been the condition of the 
country when the domination of Spain ended. 

The fifty-eight Governors, who, since 1563, had fol- 
lowed the ill-fated Vasquez de Coronado, had been little 
more than managers of a neglected farm, which scarcely 
yielded sufficient to enable its laborers to eke out a miser- 
able, half-starved existence. They had killed off or 



127 

enslaved the indigenous population. Their poverty had 
precluded the opening of roads or the clearing and culti- 
vation of the lands, while the exactions of Spain and its 
barbarous political and fiscal policy had smothered all 
commercial interests. In fact, Costa Rica had, during 
three centuries of Spanish domination, constantly retro- 
graded, and when the Spaniard retired from it, he left it 
less civilized than when he entered it in 1502. 

On September 15, 1821, Costa Rica joined Nicaragua 
in a decree of independence. On January 10, 1822, she 
proclaimed her union with the Iturbide Empire of Mexico 
under "the plan of Iguala," but in 1824 she resumed her ' 
independence, declared herself a Republic, elected Juan 
Mora as President, who remained in office for eight years, 
and became one of the United Provinces of Central Amer- 
ica. This weak, unmanageable union underwent a slow 
disintegration from 1838 to 1839. It fell in pieces for 
want of internal communications, like the old Columbian 
federation of New Granada, Venezuela and Ecuador. 

Among the twenty-four presidents and dictators who 
have governed Costa Rica since 1824, several have been 
men of marked intelligence and devoted patriotism, and 
under their administration the country has slowly 
emerged from its former depression, until to-day it may be 
said to be in a healthy political and commercial condition. 

Costa Rica is very much indebted to its first Presi- 
dent, Juan Mora. Other successful Presidents were: 
Juan Rafael Mora, from 1850 to 1859; General Tomas 
Guardia, from 1872 to 1876, and again from 1878 to 1882; 
Bernardo Soto, from 1885 to 1889, and Rafael Iglesias, 
since 1894. 

Since its independence there have been but few 
stirring events to agitate the country. The most impor-^ 
tant of them was the efficacious aid it gave to Nicaragua/ 
in 1857 in crushing the filibuster Walker, whose objectj 
was to add Nicaragua as slave territory to the United 
States. 



I' 



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it 



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19 .R 20 21 ,. M 23 „ 24 25 „■ 26 ^7~ZF~~" 29 _..■ 30 




LBJL'05 



i 



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^'■y,M'f'-:,-.. ,: ■:■.■■■ .■:■,:■. , ■ 






The republic 



OF COSTA RICA 




Gustavo Niederlein 

CHIEF OF THE SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT 

THE PHILADELPHIA 
COMMERCIAL MUSEUM 



I ^^^-^^^ 



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